Irene Nichols

Bluefield, WV- Irene A. Nichols, 97, of 1109 Heatherwood Road and previously of 617 Parkway, Bluefield, WV, died February 18, 2012 at The Maples Health Care. She was born August 4, 1914 in Cliffield, VA and lived in Bluefield since 1930. She was the daughter of George Elbert and Bertie Patton Altizer. She graduated from Beaver High School and was a very active member of the First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) of Bluefield since 1933. She served as Deacon and several terms as Elder; at the time of death, she was an Elder Emeritus. She was active in the Christian Women’s Fellowship of the church, serving as Vice President and five 2-year terms as President. She was also very active in the WV Region of Christian Churches and C.W.F., serving on the cabinet of Christian Women’s Fellowship as Vice President for four years and President for four years. She served several terms as a member of the WV Regional Board and was a delegate many times to the General Assembly of the Christian Church of the U.S. and Canada. She was a member of the Salvation Army Women’s Auxiliary, the Pink Dogwood Garden Club and a charter member of the Bluefield Regional Medical Center Volunteer Service, having served more than 20 years. She was a former member of the Ladies Auxiliary of the Bluefield Civic League, the Ladies Auxiliary of Bluefield and the Cumberland Heights Lioness Club. Other than her parents, she is preceded in death by her husband of 62 years, Charles H. Nichols; an infant son, David Earl Nichols; three brothers, Hoyt A. Altizer, Master Sergeant Charles E. Altizer and Henry F. Altizer; four sisters, Ruth Whitt, Ella Lambert, Ruby Suiter, and Helen Lockhart. Survivors include two sons, Charles Ronald Nichols of Atlanta, GA and Daniel Gordon Nichols of Bluefield; one sister, Jean Strickland and her husband Bill Strickland of Suffolk, VA; one sister-in-law, Edith Altizer of Fort Wayne, IN; many nieces, nephews, great nieces and great nephews. Funeral services will be conducted on Thursday February 23, 2012 at 11:00 a.m. at the First Christian Church in Bluefield with the Rev. Aaron Watkins officiating. Entombment will follow at Woodlawn Memorial Park in Bluewell. A luncheon for friends and family members will be served at the church afterwards. Friends may call at Mercer Funeral Home from 4:00-6:00 p.m. on Wednesday February 22, 2012. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to First Christian Church, 2200 Bland Road, Bluefield, WV 24701 or to the Bluefield Salvation Army, 900 Highland Avenue, Bluefield, WV 24701. Those wishing to share memories or condolence messages with the family may do so by visiting www.MercerFuneralHome.com Mercer Funeral Home & Crematory is serving the family of Irene A. Nichols.