- Date Of Birth: June 18, 1930
- Date Of Death: July 27, 2018
- State: Indiana
Mr. Lowell Eugene Nichols Sr., 88 of Indianapolis, passed away in the early morning of Friday, July 27, 2018 at the Richard L. Roudebush VA Medical Center. He was born June 18, 1930 in Mishawaka, IN a son of the late Willis L. and Ilia I. (Donnal) Nichols.
Lowell attended schools in Mishawaka and was a 1948 graduate of Mishawaka High School. He earned his Eagle Scout Award from the Boy Scouts of America in 1945. While in high school, he played baseball, basketball, and football as well as running cross country and track, earning 11 letters.
In November of 1948, Lowell enlisted in the United States Navy and went to boot camp at Great Lakes, IL where he attended Fire Control Class A, Fire Control Technical and Rangefinder Schools. While at Great Lakes, he played basketball and softball and competed in the All-Navy Championship Games in both sports. As a pitcher, he won four straight games to win the championship in 1949.
While stationed at Great Lakes, he met and married Betty Louise Fisher and they became the parents of seven children, four girls and three boys.
He was transferred to San Diego, CA to serve aboard the USS Ajax, a repair ship and a Flag Ship for ComServRon I. Lowell continued to play basketball and was a player/coach for ConServRon I and this team won the All-Navy Basketball Championship in 1950. Lowell served his country on four ships, the USS Ajax, USS Jason, USS Dixie and the USS Valley Forge. While aboard the USS Valley Forge during the Korean Conflict, he was sent to Japan.
Lowell loved his children and encouraged them to participate in camping, Boy Scouts, Little League, swimming as well as other sports and outdoor activities. His personal hobbies included hunting, fishing, playing banjo and mandolin and geneology. He enjoyed working with hunting dogs and had had the same line of breeding in his English Pointers for over 45 years.
In 1970, Lowell married JoAn Nichols. She had four daughters by a previous marriage. The couple purchased an RV and spent many weekends with their blended family at lakes in and around Indiana as well as Monroe, Cagill Mills and the Dunes Sate Parks. The days usually began with fishing followed by swimming and water skiing. Lowell was active with his sons in the Edgewood Little League and served as either a coach or manager from 1963 to 1973. He was very proud and supportive of his daughters who excelled in swimming at Southport High School.
Lowell was very active in the Sons of the American Revolution and wore many hats and held several offices at the chapter, state and national levels. He served in the Color Guard for several years and was the first to be awarded the NSSAR Gold Color Guard Medal. From time to time, he took and active part in the Boy Scouts and ended that activity in 2011 as a Unit Commander when his health began to fail.
Lowell is survived by his wife of nearly 48 years, JoAn Nichols; his children, Kristina (John) Beavers, Kathryn (Robert) Clark, Lowell (Susan) Nichols, Jr., Barbara (William) Schwenzer, Frederick (Peggy) Nichols and Laura (Brian) Archer; his stepchildren, Jeannette (Frank) Pagano, Sally Landers, Gay (Edward) Davis and Paulette Tanksley; 29 grandchildren; 31 great-grandchildren, two great-great-grandchildren and his siblings, Leonard (Carol) Nichols, Linda Nichols and Leola Nichols as well as several nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in passing by his parents; his son, Craig Nichols and brother and sister, Larry Nichols and Carolyn Nichols.
