Raymond Edward Nichols

Raymond (Nick) Edward Nichols from Reynoldsville, Pennsylvania, was 80 when he completed his work on this Earth 13 days after his wife, Christina had moved on, surely meeting Christina with a heavenly Prost! Raymond was born February 10, 1945 in Lockhaven, Pennsylvania to the former Beryl Barry of Reynoldsville, Pennsylvania and Jack “Tex” Nichols of Gateshead, England. He spent most of his upbringing, along with brother Stan and sister Jackie in Reynoldsville. At age 17, a disagreement with a teacher compelled Raymond to leave high school and join the US Army. During an early assignment as a cook at the Army hospital in Munich, Germany, Raymond went to a party where he met a 16-year-old Christina Maria Weber, who would 5 years later become his wife for 58 years. She was a gymnast and feisty. She injured her back and he visited her daily through her year-long recuperation. After reclassifying as a Movement Control Specialist, Raymond spent 2 tours in Vietnam at Cam Ranh Bay coordinating movement in and out of Vietnam. Upon his return, Raymond went home to Reynoldsville. His girl, Christina, flew from Germany to meet with him. With a love still strong after so much time apart, they agreed to marry. This they did on February 25, 1967 in Reynoldsville. Together they moved to Giessen, Germany launching a life together of adventure living in Germany, Belgium and the United States and traveling all around Southern Germany and Europe. While in Europe the family grew, adding daughters Theresa and Sonja. However, it was while stationed in Belgium, Raymond’s father passed away. Raymond flew back to Pennsylvania on emergency leave and was seriously injured in a car accident, losing a leg. The family made their way back to Pennsylvania where Raymond spent the next year recuperating at the Valley Forge. Through determination and with his wife by his side at the hospital, he recovered and remained on active duty. The family transferred to Fort Bragg, North Carolina where Raymond’s youngest, Michael was born. Upon completion of his tour at Fort Bragg, Raymond received reassignment back to Munich, close to his wife’s family. The family enjoyed the German-American bicultural life until transferring to Fort Hood, TX. A year later, during a transfer back to Germany, Raymond lost his youngest, Michael to illness. Raymond secured a compassionate reassignment back to Munich so that his wife could be near her family during this difficult time. He did so in a move that prioritized his family over his career. Sergeant First Class Raymond Nichols and his family remained in Munich until his retirement from 22 years in the Army in 1985. At this time, the family relocated to DeSoto, Tx. While in DeSoto, Raymond began work with what was then known as the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS). The agency reflagged as Homeland Security shortly before his retirement. Raymond, a logistics coordinator, found himself engaging in a number of projects, notably the expansion of the facility at Guantanamo Bay in Cuba and recovery efforts in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina. He traveled often. Joining his wife in retirement, Raymond looked forward to peace and quiet, as well as being involved in the raising of his local grandchildren, not always so peaceful and quiet. As Raymond and his wife’s health began to steadily decline, their oldest grandchild, Michael, moved in to assist and stayed by their side until the end. On April 13, 2025, Raymond’s wife passed away. Four days later, he entered the hospital ultimately succumbing to illness on April 26. Raymond is survived by brother Robert (Stan) Nichols, sister Jacqueline (Jackie) Stitt, daughters Theresa Nichols and Sonja Nichols, grandchildren Michael Nichols, Jasmine Nichols, Jared Castle, and Maria Castle, and 4 great grandchildren. He was a warrior. But even though he’d say he was like Beatle Bailey, with his wife correcting him “No, more like Gomer Pyle,” this banter only spoke of his quiet humility. He was one who coordinated the efforts and quietly took on every challenge offered. He lovingly held the line on the home front. He steadily held the space to temper his wife’s fire, and supported the family through every ordeal. He set an example of perseverance, quiet strength, wisdom, and oak-like presence. He will be greatly missed by us all. Graveside Services will be held in the Dallas/Ft. Worth National Cemetery, 2000 Mt. Creek Pkwy., Dallas, TX on Monday - May 19, 2025 at 3:00 P.M.