James Henry Nichols – Braniff Pilot- 1965-1982

James Henry Nichols was born on January 18, 1936 in Benton Harbor, Michigan and passed away on December 30, 2015 in Dallas, Texas.
Jim attended Benton Harbor High School and graduated from Purdue University, where he was a member of the Delta Tau Delta fraternity and Navy ROTC. Afterwards, he served in the US Navy as a pilot, achieving the rank of Lieutenant. Following his honorable discharge from the Navy, Jim pursued a career as an airline pilot, flying for Braniff, Piedmont, and USAir.
Jim was the ultimate handyman, called upon by friends and neighbors both at his home in Farmers Branch, TX, as well as his house on Lake Tawakoni. He enjoyed tinkering with electronics, building and flying model airplanes, entertaining his granddaughters on his boats on the lake, and restoring his DeLorean “Back to the Future” car. It seemed there was nothing he couldn’t build or fix.

He is survived by wife Rosemary Nichols, children James Henry, Jr. (wife Lorna) of Seattle, WA, Margaret Nichols of Frisco, TX, Beth Nichols Smith (husband Jamie) of Cypress, TX, and eight granddaughters: Autumn Nichols, Jean Marie Nichols, Melanie Nichols, Emily Reagan, Rebecca Reagan, Molly Smith, Samantha Smith, and Julie Smith. Jim was preceded in death by parents Henry Russell Nichols and Edith Wagner Nichols, and by sister Mary Grace Himes.
A memorial service will be held January 4, 2016 at 2:00 pm, at Highland Springs retirement community, 8000 Frankford Road, Dallas, TX 75252. He will be interred at the Dallas-Fort Worth National Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association at alz.org.