This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Author: marysday Surnames: Nichols, Wirtz, Hilker, Classification: obituary Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/localities.northam.usa.states.oregon.counties.lincoln/5301/mb.ashx Message Board Post: The News Times Newport, OR 97365 Posted: Wednesday, Mar 17th, 2010 Ford Nichols Ford Nichols, 72, of Lincoln City died Feb. 28, 2010 at Oregon Health and Science University in Portland, Ore. He was born July 3, 1937, the first child of Howard and Mary Nichols, in Hutcheson, Kan. When he was six weeks old, his family moved to the Portland area. The family grew with the addition of his sister, Barbara, and brother, John. He graduated from Franklin High School in 1955. He then joined the army, where he became a paratrooper in the 101st Airborne Division at Fort Campbell, Ky. He was a Beaver Believer, getting both a bachelor's and master's degree from Oregon State University. The Green Bay Packers ranked right up there with the Beavers. Northwest Natural was his home for the next 36 years, working in marketing out of the Albany office then transferring to the Lincoln City Central Coast office in 1978. He was a talented teacher and spent a number of years teaching night classes at Linn-Benton and Oregon Coast Community Colleges. He also taught real estate licensing classes and spent the last few years as a trainer for Prudential Taylor & Taylor. He was a positive influence on many people's lives and was known for his wonderful sense of humor and always had a joke up his sleeve. His deep laugh made him easy to find in any crowd. He and Shirley Wirtz were married in 1981 and traveled the world together including several trips to Europe, Russia and South America. One of his biggest goals was to touch foot in all 50 states, which he accomplished. On his 60th birthday, he decided he wanted to test his old paratrooper skills and did a tandem jump. He was a charter member (1979) and past president of the Lincoln City Rotary Club. He was preceded in death by his parents, Howard and Mary Nichols; and his sister, Barbara. He is survived by daughter, Julie (Robert) Hilker; sons, Randy (Terri) Wirtz and Ryan (Beth) Wirtz; and brother, John Nichols. A celebration of life will be at 3 p.m. Saturday, March 27, at Salishan Lodge, 7760 N Highway 101 in Gleneden Beach. Memorial donations may be made to the Lincoln City Rotary Scholarship Program, P.O. Box 522, Lincoln City, OR 97367. Important Note: The author of this message may not be subscribed to this list. If you would like to reply to them, please click on the Message Board URL link above and respond on the board.