Born to Manunde Nichols and Ethel Alfraetta Doty Nichols.
He had 5 siblings, Eleanor May, Rex James, William Roland, Sarah Margaret and Clifford Ray.
He is survived by his loving wife of 61 years, Eunice Falicia Nichols, she was also his caregiver after he was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease in 2002. And by his 3 daughters, Rose Shields, Sharon Karr and Patricia Ellis, and more than 60 grandchildren and great grandchildren. Gene and Eunice also cared for 63 foster children throughout their life together.
He enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corps on Dec. 10, 1941 three days after Pearl Harbor. He was sent to Tyler, Texas for survival training. He was assigned to the 344th Bombardment Group 496/497th Squadron. At 5'7" and 150 lbs. he was a natural fit for the Flight Engineer/ Top Turret Gunner. His group was one of the first ones into the Battle of the Bulge. He flew many missions with the 344th throughout the war earning the Good Conduct Medal, European/African/Middle Eastern Campaign Medal and Distinguished Unit Badge. He was honorably discharged in October 1945 when the 344th was demobilized. He served his country faithfully and after WWII he continued to serve in a civilian capacity as an aircraft mechanic at McClellan AFB until retiring.
He was a devoted husband and a doting father. He was a steadfast and loving role-model to many grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren. He was a man of great personal faith whose relationship with Jesus was evident in the love and compassion he showed to everyone he came in contact with. Throughout his life he continuously demonstrated his fierce loyalty, gentle heart, unyielding integrity and high moral character. He left behind a legacy of Honor, Duty, Love and courage to his adoring family. We will miss him.
His memorial service will be held Oct 12, 10:00, at his place of worship, Harvest Time Church 671 East Ave, Lincoln, CA. Then the Patriot Guard Riders will escort family and friends to Rocklin Cemetery, where his Military service will be held and his ashes will be buried.
Memorial donations can be made to his church
Harvest Time Church (HTC)
PO Box 188
Lincoln, CA 95648
If You Only Knew
By The Inspirations
(Dedicated by his loving wife, Eunice)
1
Have you prayed for a loved one,
Struggling hard to pray.
Asking the Lord for Healing.
But Healing never came.
In spite of all your efforts,
The good Lord called him home.
It's hard to let go.
When you're trying to hold on.
Chorus
If you only knew I'm just going home,
Your prayers have been answered,
My sickness is gone.
Things look much better from Heaven's view.
The sun always shinning.
We're having a time.
If you only knew.
2
Now down in the valley, looking up to the sky,
Lord you know what's best,
But I don't understand why.
If you could hear your loved one, speaking now to you,
He'd say "you wouldn't be grieving,"
If you only knew.
3
To be absent from the body,
Is to be present with the Lord.
I'm in the arms of Jesus, now,
I'm not suffering anymore.
Hand in hand, we'll stole together,
Down heavens avenue,
We're having a big celebration,
If you only knew.
Ending
Things look much better from heaven's view,
The sun is always shining,
We're having a wonderful time
If you only knew
He had 5 siblings, Eleanor May, Rex James, William Roland, Sarah Margaret and Clifford Ray.
He is survived by his loving wife of 61 years, Eunice Falicia Nichols, she was also his caregiver after he was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease in 2002. And by his 3 daughters, Rose Shields, Sharon Karr and Patricia Ellis, and more than 60 grandchildren and great grandchildren. Gene and Eunice also cared for 63 foster children throughout their life together.
He enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corps on Dec. 10, 1941 three days after Pearl Harbor. He was sent to Tyler, Texas for survival training. He was assigned to the 344th Bombardment Group 496/497th Squadron. At 5'7" and 150 lbs. he was a natural fit for the Flight Engineer/ Top Turret Gunner. His group was one of the first ones into the Battle of the Bulge. He flew many missions with the 344th throughout the war earning the Good Conduct Medal, European/African/Middle Eastern Campaign Medal and Distinguished Unit Badge. He was honorably discharged in October 1945 when the 344th was demobilized. He served his country faithfully and after WWII he continued to serve in a civilian capacity as an aircraft mechanic at McClellan AFB until retiring.
He was a devoted husband and a doting father. He was a steadfast and loving role-model to many grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren. He was a man of great personal faith whose relationship with Jesus was evident in the love and compassion he showed to everyone he came in contact with. Throughout his life he continuously demonstrated his fierce loyalty, gentle heart, unyielding integrity and high moral character. He left behind a legacy of Honor, Duty, Love and courage to his adoring family. We will miss him.
His memorial service will be held Oct 12, 10:00, at his place of worship, Harvest Time Church 671 East Ave, Lincoln, CA. Then the Patriot Guard Riders will escort family and friends to Rocklin Cemetery, where his Military service will be held and his ashes will be buried.
Memorial donations can be made to his church
Harvest Time Church (HTC)
PO Box 188
Lincoln, CA 95648
If You Only Knew
By The Inspirations
(Dedicated by his loving wife, Eunice)
1
Have you prayed for a loved one,
Struggling hard to pray.
Asking the Lord for Healing.
But Healing never came.
In spite of all your efforts,
The good Lord called him home.
It's hard to let go.
When you're trying to hold on.
Chorus
If you only knew I'm just going home,
Your prayers have been answered,
My sickness is gone.
Things look much better from Heaven's view.
The sun always shinning.
We're having a time.
If you only knew.
2
Now down in the valley, looking up to the sky,
Lord you know what's best,
But I don't understand why.
If you could hear your loved one, speaking now to you,
He'd say "you wouldn't be grieving,"
If you only knew.
3
To be absent from the body,
Is to be present with the Lord.
I'm in the arms of Jesus, now,
I'm not suffering anymore.
Hand in hand, we'll stole together,
Down heavens avenue,
We're having a big celebration,
If you only knew.
Ending
Things look much better from heaven's view,
The sun is always shining,
We're having a wonderful time
If you only knew
Born to Manunde Nichols and Ethel Alfraetta Doty Nichols.
He had 5 siblings, Eleanor May, Rex James, William Roland, Sarah Margaret and Clifford Ray.
He is survived by his loving wife of 61 years, Eunice Falicia Nichols, she was also his caregiver after he was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease in 2002. And by his 3 daughters, Rose Shields, Sharon Karr and Patricia Ellis, and more than 60 grandchildren and great grandchildren. Gene and Eunice also cared for 63 foster children throughout their life together.
He enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corps on Dec. 10, 1941 three days after Pearl Harbor. He was sent to Tyler, Texas for survival training. He was assigned to the 344th Bombardment Group 496/497th Squadron. At 5'7" and 150 lbs. he was a natural fit for the Flight Engineer/ Top Turret Gunner. His group was one of the first ones into the Battle of the Bulge. He flew many missions with the 344th throughout the war earning the Good Conduct Medal, European/African/Middle Eastern Campaign Medal and Distinguished Unit Badge. He was honorably discharged in October 1945 when the 344th was demobilized. He served his country faithfully and after WWII he continued to serve in a civilian capacity as an aircraft mechanic at McClellan AFB until retiring.
He was a devoted husband and a doting father. He was a steadfast and loving role-model to many grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren. He was a man of great personal faith whose relationship with Jesus was evident in the love and compassion he showed to everyone he came in contact with. Throughout his life he continuously demonstrated his fierce loyalty, gentle heart, unyielding integrity and high moral character. He left behind a legacy of Honor, Duty, Love and courage to his adoring family. We will miss him.
His memorial service will be held Oct 12, 10:00, at his place of worship, Harvest Time Church 671 East Ave, Lincoln, CA. Then the Patriot Guard Riders will escort family and friends to Rocklin Cemetery, where his Military service will be held and his ashes will be buried.
Memorial donations can be made to his church
Harvest Time Church (HTC)
PO Box 188
Lincoln, CA 95648
If You Only Knew
By The Inspirations
(Dedicated by his loving wife, Eunice)
1
Have you prayed for a loved one,
Struggling hard to pray.
Asking the Lord for Healing.
But Healing never came.
In spite of all your efforts,
The good Lord called him home.
It's hard to let go.
When you're trying to hold on.
Chorus
If you only knew I'm just going home,
Your prayers have been answered,
My sickness is gone.
Things look much better from Heaven's view.
The sun always shinning.
We're having a time.
If you only knew.
2
Now down in the valley, looking up to the sky,
Lord you know what's best,
But I don't understand why.
If you could hear your loved one, speaking now to you,
He'd say "you wouldn't be grieving,"
If you only knew.
3
To be absent from the body,
Is to be present with the Lord.
I'm in the arms of Jesus, now,
I'm not suffering anymore.
Hand in hand, we'll stole together,
Down heavens avenue,
We're having a big celebration,
If you only knew.
Ending
Things look much better from heaven's view,
The sun is always shining,
We're having a wonderful time
If you only knew
He had 5 siblings, Eleanor May, Rex James, William Roland, Sarah Margaret and Clifford Ray.
He is survived by his loving wife of 61 years, Eunice Falicia Nichols, she was also his caregiver after he was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease in 2002. And by his 3 daughters, Rose Shields, Sharon Karr and Patricia Ellis, and more than 60 grandchildren and great grandchildren. Gene and Eunice also cared for 63 foster children throughout their life together.
He enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corps on Dec. 10, 1941 three days after Pearl Harbor. He was sent to Tyler, Texas for survival training. He was assigned to the 344th Bombardment Group 496/497th Squadron. At 5'7" and 150 lbs. he was a natural fit for the Flight Engineer/ Top Turret Gunner. His group was one of the first ones into the Battle of the Bulge. He flew many missions with the 344th throughout the war earning the Good Conduct Medal, European/African/Middle Eastern Campaign Medal and Distinguished Unit Badge. He was honorably discharged in October 1945 when the 344th was demobilized. He served his country faithfully and after WWII he continued to serve in a civilian capacity as an aircraft mechanic at McClellan AFB until retiring.
He was a devoted husband and a doting father. He was a steadfast and loving role-model to many grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren. He was a man of great personal faith whose relationship with Jesus was evident in the love and compassion he showed to everyone he came in contact with. Throughout his life he continuously demonstrated his fierce loyalty, gentle heart, unyielding integrity and high moral character. He left behind a legacy of Honor, Duty, Love and courage to his adoring family. We will miss him.
His memorial service will be held Oct 12, 10:00, at his place of worship, Harvest Time Church 671 East Ave, Lincoln, CA. Then the Patriot Guard Riders will escort family and friends to Rocklin Cemetery, where his Military service will be held and his ashes will be buried.
Memorial donations can be made to his church
Harvest Time Church (HTC)
PO Box 188
Lincoln, CA 95648
If You Only Knew
By The Inspirations
(Dedicated by his loving wife, Eunice)
1
Have you prayed for a loved one,
Struggling hard to pray.
Asking the Lord for Healing.
But Healing never came.
In spite of all your efforts,
The good Lord called him home.
It's hard to let go.
When you're trying to hold on.
Chorus
If you only knew I'm just going home,
Your prayers have been answered,
My sickness is gone.
Things look much better from Heaven's view.
The sun always shinning.
We're having a time.
If you only knew.
2
Now down in the valley, looking up to the sky,
Lord you know what's best,
But I don't understand why.
If you could hear your loved one, speaking now to you,
He'd say "you wouldn't be grieving,"
If you only knew.
3
To be absent from the body,
Is to be present with the Lord.
I'm in the arms of Jesus, now,
I'm not suffering anymore.
Hand in hand, we'll stole together,
Down heavens avenue,
We're having a big celebration,
If you only knew.
Ending
Things look much better from heaven's view,
The sun is always shining,
We're having a wonderful time
If you only knew
