Longtime Felton resident Charles “Nick” Nichols was buried in the Felton Cemetery after he died of heart failure July 28 at the age of 92, surrounded by his wife and children.
Mr. Nichols was born in Oakland and spent his childhood and high school years there.
He worked for Pacific Gas and Electric Co. and the Richmond Police Department before joining the U.S. Army in 1943 during World War II. He served in India and the Pacific as a military police investigator and was discharged in 1945.
After working in construction until 1948, he joined the California Highway Patrol and served in Contra Costa County, San Bernardino County and finally Santa Cruz County until his retirement in 1974. His last assignment was as a sergeant in the Santa Cruz-area CHP office, where he worked with his son Larry, also a CHP officer.
Relatives said Mr. Nichols was proud of the years he served as an officer. He also taught traffic school and made many friends while on the force.
After six months of cross-country trips and staying at home, Mr. Nichols went to work for the San Lorenzo Valley Water District, where he worked for 16 years before again retiring.
Mr. Nichols married his high school sweetheart, Joy Rodgers, in 1940. They were married for 49 years and had three children. The couple was active in Eastern Star.
After her death, Mr. Nichols married Nancy Moulton. During the past two decades, he supported her in her activities with Pajaro Valley Quilters Association. They went to Quilt Market in St. Louis one year and Charlotte, N.C., the next.
Mr. Nichols was past president of the Santa Cruz Shrine Club, served on the board of the Felton Cemetery and received an Outstanding Volunteer Award from the Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office.
He is survived his wife of 21 years, Nancy Moulton Nichols of Ben Lomond; children Larry Nichols, and his wife, Molly, of Eureka, Linda McNair, and her husband, David, of Alexander, Ark., and Sharon Curtis, and her friend, John Medieros, of San Lorenzo; stepchildren, Cory Haynes of Columbus, Ga., and Wendy Moulton of Fresno; brother Bob Nichols, and his wife, Pat, of Vancouver, Wash.; eight grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.
At Mr. Nichols’ request, no services are planned. A lifelong sports fan, he had requested that contributions in his memory be sent to the Bryan Stow Family, P.O. Box 884, Capitola, CA 95010.
