Samuel Kent Nichols

Samuel Kent Nichols, beloved husband of Rosalie Kerrigan Nichols, passed from this earthly life on April 12, 2011 at the age of 90 after a month long illness. Mr. Nichols was born in Bedford County on March 16, 1921 and was preceded in death by his father, James Robert Nichols; his mother Mary Waldron Cooney Nichols; two brothers, James Robert Nichols Jr., and Ralph St. George Nichols; his two sisters, Marie Nichols Harris, and Allee Nichols McKeever; sisters-in-law Gladys Nichols and Nenie Nichols; and brothers-in-law Gerald McKeever and Bill Harris. Mr. Nichols is survived by his wife, Rosalie, and many nieces and nephews: Gerald McKeever and wife Jeanne; Bill Harris and wife Lynda, and their family all of Richmond; Mary Rob Harris Clodfelter and husband Harve and their family of Golena, Ohio; Jim Nichols and wife, Morning, of Pacifica, California; John Nichols of Alameda, California and his daughter Renee and son James; Karen Nichols of Bedford, Virginia; Barbara Nichols of Colorado; Jeff and Paula Harris; and Mary Napier Lovejoy and David Napier of Richmond. Janet Shea, Cathy Dasney, and Anne Marie Kerrigan are two of the many relatives on Rosalie\"™s side of the family who have been close to Kent over the years. The family wishes to also acknowledge the many cherished family friends over the years, including Mary Pollard and The Costinett and Listoe families.

As a child, Mr. Nichols lived at Three Otters, an antebellum home built by the Nichols family in 1837. Later, Kent and Rosalie built their house and horse stables themselves and the story of this partnership was a favorite among the family and friends. Horses were his second love\"¦.and Rosalie his first \"" Kent continued to say, even at 90 after his illness had taken hold, \"there\"™s only one girl for me\". Kent and Rosalie were happily married for 66 years.

Kent served as a Staff Sergeant in the 387th Fighter Squadron of the Army of the United States and was actively serving during World War II, and was in combat in France during the Normandy invasion.

He was discharged from the Army on October 27, 1945. Kent has been a member of the Peaks of Otter VFW, Post 2157 for over 50 years and was honored with a Life Membership. He was retired from Piedmont Label Company in Bedford after 43 years of service.

The family wishes to thank Bedford Hospice for their help in Mr. Nichols\"™ care; Generation Solutions staff; those who helped in the Bedford Lifesaving Crew; Bedford Carilion Hospital; Dr. Wayne Hutchison; and the numerous friends and family for their caring gestures.

Family visitation will be on Thursday, April 14th, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Tharp Funeral Home in Bedford, Virginia. A Mass of Christian Burial will be on Friday morning at 10 a.m. at Holy Name of Mary Catholic Church in Bedford, Virginia, on Oakwood Street, with Father Salvador Añonuevo, Celebrant. Burial will follow in Greenwood Cemetery with military honors. Friends and family are invited to a reception at the church following the graveside service. Arrangements by Tharp Funeral Home & Crematory, Bedford, 540-586-3443.