Donald F. Nichols, age 82, a resident of Natick, MA & Orange City, FL, entered into eternal rest peacefully on Saturday, November 10, 2012 after a brief illness at Central Florida Regional Hospital in Sanford, FL.
Don was born in Natick, MA on June 3, 1930. He was the youngest child of the late Henry & Greta Nichols of Natick, MA. He graduated from Natick High School.
Don entered the Air Force in 1951 and obtained his A&E Mechanics license at Sheppard AFB in Texas. He also received Aircraft Instrument mechanic training at Chanute AFB, Illinois. He then served in the 92nd Flight Maintenance Squadron of the Strategic Air Command in Spokane Washington where he worked on the B-36 bomber. He was married to Eleanor (Punkie) Tozer also of Natick, MA for 51 years.
He was later employed for 32 years as an avionics mechanic for Northeast Airlines & Delta Airlines.
Don and Eleanor wintered in Orange City, Florida for 16 years where he was an active member of the "Stetson University Bleacher Creatures" baseball and basketball fan group. He was a member of the Orlando Baptist Church and Volusia County Baptist Church. Don enjoyed vintage cars and was the proud owner of a vintage 1965 Mustang convertible.
His loving wife Eleanor predeceased Don in 2004. His brothers, Henry Nichols, John Nichols, and his sister Emma Cadillac of Natick, MA also predeceased him.
He is survived by his loving daughter Donna Nichols and her husband Joseph Salerno of Stratford, CT and by his brother, Richard Nichols of Natick, MA, as well as several nieces and nephews.
A memorial service will take place at 11:30 a.m., Saturday, December 1, 2012 at The John Everett and Sons Funeral Home, 4 Park St. (at Natick Common) Natick, MA followed by burial with military honors at Glenwood Cemetery, Natick, MA.
The family has asked that in lieu of flowers that remembrances be made in Don's memory to the American Heart Association, 20 Speen St, Framingham, MA. or the Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund, Attn: Contributions, One Intrepid Square, West 46th Street & 12th Avenue, New York, N.Y. 10036.