Billie George Nichols

Billie George Nichols, 86 of Clarksburg passed away on Sunday, June 7, 2020 at home with family by his side.  He was born on July 12, 1933 in Clarksburg WV; he was the third son of the late Carl Wayne and Mabel Virginia Powell Nichols. His family later grew to five boys and one girl; Jack, Jim, Bill, Tom, Carl, and one daughter, Colleen.

In addition to his parents, he is preceded in death by his wife Patricia “Patty” Wyckoff Nichols of sixty years; two brothers, Jack and wife Sammy and James L and Mary Ann Nichols; sister, Colleen Nichols Clovis; brother in laws, Paul and Tommy Wyckoff; niece and nephew, Peter and Danielle.

He is survived by his two children, Spence Nichols and wife Vickie, Clarksburg, Amy Mae Messenger and husband William B Jr., Buffalo Lake; four grandchildren, Billie Nichole Messenger and spouse Wendy Stone, Chad William Messenger, Melodie E Nichols and partner Tonya Allen and Kellie J Loretta and husband Ryan; five great grandchildren, Casey Messenger, Havyn Messenger, and Isabella, Ethan, and Addison Loretta; brothers, Tom Nichols and wife Phyllis, Carl “Ding” Nichols and wife Jill; sister in law, Barbara Kester Wyckoff; numerous nieces and nephews who he loved dearly; special family friend, Dana Lantz.

By his own words, Bill was proud to claim that his family was always inspired by mom and dad to obey the laws of God and the rules of decency.

Carl and Mabel came from a long line of ancestors who have lived in America since the early 1800’s. Bill was always proud to claim his heritage. “Born in America”. He was taught to love everybody. His theme in life was “Love can build a bridge” from those who can, to those in need.

Bill attended all twelve years of school in the Harrison County School system. He graduated Victory High School in 1951. He continued his education at Allied Institute of Technology, Pittsburgh - with many hours at West Virginia University, University of Tennessee and had an honorary degree from the University of Hard Knocks at Alderson Broadus College, WV.

During his youth, he was a member of the Boy Scouts of America and earned many different merit badges and the rank of First Class Scout. With his mother and father (the round up cook and coach), his brothers and sister, Bill was a grocery boy in his family food store, a gardener of the crops, a hayfield worker, and cow puncher on the family farm of 250 acres in Doddridge County.

Bill and Patty were married June 29, 1952. He was a painter for his Uncle Dave and then went to work for the Rolland-Adamston Flat Glass Plant in 1953. Later that year, he was drafted into the Army during the Korean War. He served in the Army and U.S. Air Force in the Far East for two years.

Bill worked his way up through engineering and on to becoming assistant plant manager of the Rolland Plant and in 1976 became the plant manager of the company’s first “float” glass plant which was called the Jerry Run Glass Plant of AFG Corporation. In 1979, he became the corporate director of customer technology and with his wife Patty, transferred to Kingsport, Tennessee. He served in that capacity until his retirement in 1991.

He and Patty then returned to WV to be near family and lifelong friends.

He soon became very active in volunteer work in the community and with the Lions Club where he had been a member since 1962. He served his club “The Clarksburg Adamston Lions” as president and other offices and headed many committee projects and he was elected the “District Governor” in 1996. In 2017, Bill was given a “55 Years of Service” pin by Lions Club International. He served as “Trustee” and “Service Coordinator” of the WV Lions Sight Conservation beginning in 1976. In 2012, he was appointed to the Liaison Committee between the WV Lions and the WVU Eye Institute. He recently was presented a plaque of 58 years of service.

He was a member of a group of volunteers that sponsored the popular “Community Christmas Day Dinner” that served more than a thousand meals each Christmas for more than 22 years, and several years at the Salvation Army and the Mission.

 His daughter Amy and her son, Chad Messenger worked the dinners along with his granddaughter Melodie and adopted granddaughters Cassidy and Cady Messenger.

He and granddaughter Melodie continued that effort on a smaller scale but the seed was planted and this project inspired others to begin their own dinners.

Bill was a volunteer counselor for the “SBA” score project and served them for more than 25 years. During the periods where he was volunteering more, he was awarded “Citizen of the Year” by Clarksburg. He also received and awarded from the Shinnston Newspaper for “Volunteer of the Year”. 

Family will receive friends at Davis Funeral Home, 124 Olen Thomas Drive, Clarksburg on Thursday, June 11, 2020 from 2:00PM-8:00PM with proper distancing and face mask required. Funeral services will be on Friday, June 12, 2020 at 11:00 AM, with Wayne Worth officiating. We will be webcasting the service on his memorial page on the funeral home website. If for some reason the webcast drops we will finish recording and reload once completed to watch. Bill will be laid to rest beside his wife, Patty at WV National Cemetery. Online condolences may be sent to Davisfuneralhomewv.com.  Davis Funeral Home is honored to assist the Nichols family.  In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to WVU Eye Institute, WVU Foundation – P.O. Box 1650 – Morgantown, WV 26507-1650

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