Ruth Ellen Nichols

Ruth was the youngest child in a blended family of 19. Mary was a strong hill country woman and practiced mountain medicine. Ruth weighed 3lb at birth and her mother would pin her to the pillow at night so she wouldn’t get lost in the covers. She nursed Ruth through whooping cough, diphtheria, mumps, and pneumonia.

Ruth grew up in eastern KY and moved to Dayton OH when she was 17, where she finished high school. She worked at Wright Patterson AFB. She later moved to Victoria TX where she married her life long love, Billy Nichols, after he finished US Air Force flight school. Five days before he graduated, the Korean War ended, so they got married on his graduation day, August 1,1953.

Ruth moved several times with Billy for military, school, and then his work with NASA and the Army. Their first daughter, Teresa, was born at DOW AFB in Maine. They spent a brief time in Massachusetts and then daughter, Ramona, was born in KY. After three years in AZ, they moved to CA where their first son, Billy Jr, joined the family. Their last move was back to the Midwest to be closer to family. Timothy was born in Michigan.

Throughout their moves Ruth excelled as a secretary. Her shorthand and typing were very fast and she became proficient in using computers as they entered the office. One of her jobs in AZ involved sewing cloth bags for a herpetologist (snake scientist).

She was a caregiver for her mother, took several college courses along the way, and supported her husband and children with her love. She was an intense protector of all things family. She loved to sing and you often saw her dancing around the home while doing her chores or playing with her children and grandchildren. She was devoted to her Lord Jesus. Her one desire was for all her loved ones to know God’s love. She looks forward to seeing you again in heaven one day.

Ruth is preceded in death by her parents, her siblings, and her granddaughters Rachel, and Shannon. She is survived by her husband, Billy Jack Nichols; her children: Terry (Bob) Duncan IA, Mona (David) Kimmel, Billy Jr (Karen), and Tim (Anne) all of MI: Twelve grandchildren: Bobby (Katrina), Jessica (Michael), Sarah (Byran), Becca (Val), Raymond, Davey (Michelle), Luke, Brittany (Greg), Mikaela (Luke), Caleb (Katie), Hailey, and Tyler; twelve great grandchildren: Robby, Violet, Bailey, Ivy, Zoey, Lucy, Roman, Cody, Ben, Liam, Alexis (Seth), Hannah; and one great great grandchild: Ellis.

We are grateful to those who help us celebrate her life today. We were blessed by God to have her with us. Memorials may be directed toward the Autism Research Institute at autism.org.

Funeral service is scheduled for 11:00 Friday, April 1, 2022, at North Warren Church of Christ. After the service please join us for lunch in the fellowship hall. The family will then meet at the Christian Memorial Gardens West in Rochester Hills for the burial at 2:00. You are welcome to join us.