ROBERT E. NICHOLSON passed away on April 9, 2009.

Bob was born on March 14, 1919, in Princeton, Ill. to Nicholas and Edna Nicholson. In 1930, the family moved to Stockton, Calif. where Bob and his six siblings attended local schools.

In 1941, he was drafted into the military where he served in the Third Armored Division under General George S. Patton and fought in the Battle of the Bulge. He also saw action at Normandy, in northern France, central Europe and Germany.

In 1946, Bob joined Union Oil in Stockton and was eventually transferred to Seattle, Wash. He retired after 33 years of service as a sales manager.

He and his wife Ruth moved to Green Valley in 1979. They loved to travel and were able to visit Europe, Canada, Australia and New Zealand over the years. The diaries they kept chronicle their many adventures and the people they met.

Bob was a charter member of the Desert Hills Golf Club and was active in the Green Valley Woodworkers. He was a talented woodworker and over the past 23 years he made and gave away over 2500 wood objects. As a tribute to Bob for his generous donation to the wood shop expansion project, several members constructed a bench that is located in the courtyard at the West Center.

Bob’s beloved wife Ruth preceded him in death on Oct. 21, 2001.

He is survived by three brothers: Roger of Stockton, Charles (Cloa) of San Diego, Calif. and Richard of Modesto, Calif.

A celebration of Bob’s life will be held at his home, 967 S. Las Lomas Circle, on Saturday, May 2, at 1 p.m. Friends and acquaintances are invited to attend and share their stories and memories.

Contributions in his memory may be made to the Community Food Bank and the Friends of Green Valley Library.