Obituary of Robert Pearson Nichols

Robert P. Nichols Obituary

Robert Pearson Nichols was born on May 24, 1930, at home in Prices Mill, Kentucky to Robert Arnold Nichols and Pauline Akins Nichols. He is survived by one brother, Billy Duncan Nichols and his wife, Yvonne Nichols. After high school, Robert joined the Navy and was trained as a Naval Aviator.

Bob, as he was known by, was married for 57 years to his love, Helen Joanne Buist Nichols. Bob and Joanne met in San Diego, California where she was a waitress in the Admiral Kid Officers Club. She offered to show Bob around San Diego and when he agreed, she walked to the back and quit her job. The rest is history. They were married after two weeks. A few weeks later, he left on the Bon Homme Richard aircraft carrier to join the Korean War effort. While in Japan, Bob decided to go back to Japan and preach the gospel. He finished his Bachelor’s Degree in Bible and Greek at Harding College in Searcy, Arkansas.

Bob and Joanne had six children. Linda Jo Reese and Richard Allen Nichols are deceased. Bob is survived by four children, Victoria Ann Boyd, Robert Wesley Nichols, William Arnold Nichols, and Kim Marie Miles. Bob has 18 grandchildren and 36 great grandchildren spread across the United States and around the world. There is family in Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Tennessee, Texas, Washington, Italy, Philippines and Japan.

The passion of Bob’s life was spreading the gospel. Bob preached in Japan from 1957-1966 and from 1976-2010. At one time there were seven churches in Japan that started from the work he started in Osaka, Japan. Bob met and supported many GI’s who passed through Japan. Bob spoke Japanese and could read and write the language better than many Japanese.

In the years he was in America, Bob started churches in Mesa, Gilbert, and Payson Arizona. He also preached in Cleveland, Ohio and at Monte Vista Church of Christ in Phoenix. It is a pleasure to visit these congregations knowing Bob and Joanne’s contribution to the Lord’s work.

Bob and Joanne were active as real estate agents and brokers in the ten years they lived in Mesa, Arizona. Bob was president of the Arizona Apartment Association. The business became so big that they were forced to decide between preaching and real estate. So, they sold everything and moved back to Japan with four children in 1976.

Bob’s lifelong hobby was ham radio. He was in the Radio Club in High School and joined the Navy to be a radioman. He set up an antenna everywhere he lived and made contacts around the world. He had contacts in Australia, Philippines, Europe, Hawaii, and most of the states in continental United States. He had a pin that said 60 years of Ham Radio that he wore on his cap.

Proverbs 20:7 says, “The righteous who walks in his integrity— blessed are his children after him!” Bob was a righteous man of integrity, and his children and grandchildren are very blessed to have his example of how to live as a Christian.