Barbara Ellen Nichols

Barbara (Bebe) Ellen Nichols died March 25, 2020 in Birmingham, Ala. She was born February 5, 1934 in Clarksburg, Wv, grew up in West Milford, graduated from Unidis High School in 1952, before living most of her life in Bridgeport, Wv.

She was the youngest child of John Henry McKinley Frush and Hattie May Trippett Frush who preceded her in death. She was also preceded in death by her husband of 63 years, Robert Elwood Nichols and her two brothers, Robert Lee and William Frank, and one sister Alice Jean Crouser.

She is survived by her daughters Roberta Ellen Nolte and husband Dan of Ona Wv; Rebecca Ann Nichols of Nashville Tn; the three sons Roger Alan, and his wife Erika, of Nashville Tn; Kenneth Eugene and his wife Lori, of Birmingham Ala; Joseph Andrew of Jacksonville, Fla; two grandsons Ian Nolte and his wife Amy, and Max Nolte of Huntington, Wv; and granddaughters, Harper, Zoe, and Bella Nichols of Birmingham, Ala; and one great-granddaughter Eva Louise of Huntington, Wv.

Barbara managed the photography business, The Bell Studio, in Bridgeport through the years after one day being asked by her husband to hand-color a black-and-white portrait. Little did she realize that her responsibilities would grow through the years to include managing all facets of the business after her husband took the photograph. If there is a colorized portrait in a home in Bridgeport from the 60s, it was hand-colored by Barbara.

Over the next 40 years while she worked in the Studio, Barbara was raising her five kids and always had an eye out for the other kids in the neighborhood. She was a caring mom when her kids were small but not over-protective. She lost her mother when she was two, raised by an aunt until her father was able to provide for her in her early teens. This experience influenced her own parenting as she allowed her children to be independent, to think, decide, and act with direction or support if they wanted it. They rarely wanted it.

She camped with four kids while 8-months pregnant, then camped some more with all five in places like Holly River State Park in Wv and Tom’s Cove in Assateague, Del. She cooked thousands of meals after working at the Studio all day, made hundreds of bowls of rice pudding, and faithfully fulfilled her kids’ annual, birthday-meal-request for spaghetti and chocolate cake.

She willingly loved and adopted pets including Flip, for a time, Molly, Whitney-kitty, Calli-kitty, Alexx, Lil’ Kitty, and then Little Buddy, who remained with her until she could no longer care for him. She loved them all, and they loved her back.

After selling The Bell Studio, Barbara and her husband moved to Birmingham, Ala where they lived for 15 years near their son and his family. Barbara was employed by Smith’s Variety for a time and later as the executive assistant at YouthServe. She loved being with the young people who worked there who helped other kids through community service projects. She also loved the non-profit’s office cat, Boo Radley.

She was an avid reader consuming as many James Patterson books as she could get and was always willing to reread a James A. Michener novel from her shelf. She also loved The Carol Burnett Show and raised her kids to love and laugh at the skits.

She will be remembered for many things. She possessed a sense of humor which drew her kids and their friends to her. She possessed a quiet dignity and never elevated herself above others. She never forgot her roots and was proud of West Virginia. She was fiercely loyal to her husband, and she often set aside her own interests for those of her husband, children, and pets. She will be remembered, missed and live on in her family’s life.

In lieu of flowers, we ask that you make a donation to CHIRP, Children’s Instrument Recycle Program in West Virginia. CHIRP is committed to helping young musicians who cannot afford to purchase or rent an instrument of their own. https://chirpwv.com/ Due to the pandemic, a graveside service in West Milford will be at a later date.