Richard “Dick” Nichols passed away in his sleep at his Wilmington Island home on Jan 16, 2022. Richard was the fourth of five children born in Natick, MA to Henry and Greta Rice Nichols on April 1,1925. After graduation from Natick High School in 1943, Dick enlisted in the United States Army. After pilot training in the Midwest, he became a member of the Army Air Corp.  He then flew many recovery and transport missions throughout Western Europe to include Strasbourg,  Vienna , Paris and Prague helping repatriate fallen American Service members until his discharge in 1947. Having achieved the rank of Captain, he was an active member of the Massachusetts National Guard until 1963. He married Eleanor ‘Lee’ Ahern in 1951 and raised his family in Natick, MA. He was employed as a mechanical engineer for the Raytheon Company for 30 years. Dick and Lee began spending their winters on Tybee Island in 1992, enjoying Savannah and their time there with new friends.

Dick was a member of the Tybee Island Optomist Club, Tybee American Legion Post 154, the Shriner’s Tuesday night supper club, and the Monday card club. He enjoyed hunting and fishing, and walking the beaches of Tybee in search of shark teeth. He was a lifelong avid Boston sports fan, especially the Red Sox and Boston Bruins. 

Predeceased by his parents, Henry and Greta, siblings Emma Cadillac, Henry, John and Donald Nichols, wife Eleanor and companion Esther Korff. He is survived by his son, Richard Nichols Jr of Columbia, SC and a daughter Marilyn Barrington of Savannah, GA. , two grandchildren Sara Kriwox (Neil) of Tupper Lake, NY and Matthew Barrington (Courtney) of Carver, MA and three wonderful great grandchildren, Austyn, Peyton and Emma, and several nieces and nephews.

The family is very grateful for Dick’s full time caregiver Faith Condon and Kindred Hospice, especially Danielle and Kathleen for their excellent care in his last months.

Visitation will be Monday January 24 from 3-5 pm with a memorial service to follow at 5pm at the Islands chapel of Fox and Weeks.

Internment and a Celebration of His Life  is planned for friends and family later in the spring in Natick , MA.

Donations in his name may be made to the Mighty Eighth Air Force Museum, 175 Bourne Ave, Pooler,GA 31322 or the Optimist International Foundation, PO Box 952126, St Louis, MO 63195 or at www.OIFoundation.org