| Notes |
- John Nichols, Sr., longtime resident of Ventura County, who delivered the bread and drove the school bus and sold the stamps and coins has died. He died at home with his wife of 65 years, Ida May (Terri) Nichols on Aug. 3, 2008. His family supported his decision to stop kidney dialysis and let nature take its course. His death was swift and merciful. He and the family were supported by Livingston Memorial Visiting Nurse Association and Hospice.
John was born, Nov. 25, 1922, in Hollywood. He was raised in Highland Park. He joined the Civilian Conservation Corp (CCC) in 1940 and helped to restore the La Purisima Mission in Lompoc. He served in the U.S. Navy from 1943 to 1945 as an Aviation Ordinance man and swimming instructor. He married Ida May Kron (Terri) on Feb. 14, 1943. During the early years of the marriage the family lived in Glendale, Los Angles, Ridgecrest, Boulder City, Las Vegas and Carpinteria. He rode motorcycles most of his life. At age 17 he and Thurston Shinn bought a motorcycle for $99.00 and rode from Los Angeles to Seebring, Ohio, to finish their last year of high school, play football and live above a tavern. He and Terri rode BMW motorcycles over 3,000 miles through Mexico. They later rode 3,000 miles through Canada on matching BMWs.
The family moved to Ventura in 1957. He worked for Prosser Bakery and Wonder Bread as a delivery salesman. His route was the Ojai area. He delivered Bill Baker's bread back to the Ventura area. The family grew up on Bill Baker's bread. He co-owned, with his wife Terri, the House of Nichols, a coin and stamp store on Main Street, near Ventura High School.
After retiring from the bakery business he drove a school bus for the Ventura Unified School District. After that second retirement job he worked as a chauffeur for the Lexington until the age of 80.
Some of his accomplishments were: first Boy Scout leader in Ventura County for handicapped youths, and as district manager of the Golden State Mobile Homeowners' Association he was instrumental in maintaining rent control for mobile home parks in Ventura County. He received the 1983 Saticoy PTA award for Outstanding Dedication to Children, was president of Ventura City Mobile Home Coordinating Council, was one of the founders of the BMW Motorcycle Club of Ventura, founded the first Ventura County Coin Club, instituted the recycling program at his mobile home park, and started the Beginners' Computer Club at his mobile home park. John and Terri were among the original members of the Unitarian Church of Ventura.
One of his most memorable and rewarding experiences was riding his bicycle across the United States, coast to coast, at age 69. The other experience was rafting down the Colorado River with his son, Jim and grandson, Tann.
He is survived by his wife, Terri; sons, John, Jr., and Jim; daughters-in-law, Leslie Nichols and Sharon Nichols; grandson, Tann Nichols and his wife Nicole Kuzman-Nichols; great-grandsons, Andrew and Sean; brothers, Gordon and Robert; and many loving nieces.
A memorial will be held at 1 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 14 at the Unitarian Universalist Church, 5654 Ralston St., Ventura.
In lieu of flowers donation may be made in John's name to the Remebrance Fund of the Ventura UU Church. For more information visit the church on the web at http://www.uuventura.org. John always loved marketing.
John was a strong swimmer. In his youth he was swimming out beyond the Santa Monica pier when dolphins tried to push him back to shore. He said he wished his ashes to be scattered at sea, "So I'll be able to swim with the dolphins forever."
Arrangements are under the direction of the Ted Mayr Funeral Home & Crematory, 3150 Loma Vista Road, Ventura.
---http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/name/john-nichols-obituary?pid=115188523&view=guestbook, accessed 24 April 2018
|
1922 - 2008 (85 years)
[1, 2] 
