Robert Carrol Nichols

Robert C. "Bob" Nichols passed to his eternal home on April 21, 2013 at Hillside Village of Desoto, De Soto, Kansas. Bob, the first child of Lloyd M. & Irene Sue (Troyer) Nichols, was born February 6, 1928 in Harper County, Kansas. Bob"s father was a railroad signal maintainer and the family lived in many areas of the Midwest and Southwest. He attended several different schools. While still in school he helped farm for his bedridden grandfather M.A. Troyer. Bob served in the US Navy as an air traffic controller in the Panama Canal Zone. He attended the Kansas State Teachers College at Pittsburg Kansas where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree. He was employed by the Harper County, Kansas Welfare Department, then went to the Miami County Welfare Department where he met Edith Irene Emmart. They were married September 2, 1955 making their home in Paola. Bob attended the University of Kansas where he earned his Masters in Social Work. He later worked for Vista and as a Social Worker for the State of Kansas serving on the State Rehabilitation Traveling Team working with patients returning to live in their homes after hospitalization. He was later Director of Vocational Rehabilitation at Osawatomie State Hospital. When the State phased out that program he became a real estate appraiser. He later served as the Miami County Appraiser until retiring and going into business for himself. Bob and Edith have one child, John Robert Nichols (wife Ann) and are grandparents to twin sons, Edward James and George M and two daughters, Christine Marie and Sarah Jane. The grandchildren have brought great joy and happiness to Bob and Edith. Bob enjoyed history and served as President of the Miami County Historical Society. He was appointed to the Paola Housing Authority and later served as its Board President. He was a member of the American Legion Post #156 at Paola. Bob"s church home was the First Presbyterian Church in Paola where he was a Deacon and Elder. Preceding him in death were his parents, brother-in-law Harold Emmart, nephews Edward Gene and Ronald D. Emmart, twin grandsons George M & Edward James Nichols. He is survived by his wife Edith, son John Robert (wife Ann), granddaughters Christine & Sarah, sister Janeth (John Lewis), nieces Jeri Lyn Halvorson (husband Scott), Janna Sue Weyrauch (husband Doug), sister-in-law Rosemary Emmart & her family and many cousins. Bob will be remembered as a gentle, kind, honest ,compassionate, and good man who loved his church, home and family. Bob requested that his body be donated to the University of Kansas Medical Center for medical research. He hoped that others, including his grandchildren, might benefit from the knowledge gained. Contributions in lieu of flowers can be made to the First Presbyterian Church of Paola, American Legion Post #156 (5 Delaware St, Paola, KS 66208), or the Alzheimer"s Association (Heart of America Chapter, 3846 W. 75th Street, Prairie Village, KS 66208. To leave a special memory for Bob or a condolence for his family please click the Share Memories button above. 1st United Presbyterian Church, 110 E. Peoria St. Paola, Kansas Service: Friday, April 26, 2013 at 11:00 AM Visitation: No Visitation