Phyllis Darlene Nicholson, 84, passed away Thursday, Dec. 5, 2019. She was born Feb. 15, 1935, in Herndon to Walter and Lora (Cox) Zwickle.
Phyllis grew up on farms near Herndon and Oberlin. She graduated from Decatur Community High School in 1952 and attended several colleges during her lifetime without earning a degree. She started her career with the federal government at Schilling Air Force Base in 1960, working as a clerk stenographer. She spent the bulk of her career working as a civilian personnel management specialist at Forbes Air Force Base in Topeka, Lowry Air Force Base in Denver, and the Air Force plant representative office at Boeing in Wichita. She retired in 1994 as personnel officer in the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Kansas.
She was married to Clarence Nicholson and William Fox. Both marriages ended in divorce.
She was an avid duplicate bridge enthusiastic, achieving the rank of sapphire life master in the American Contract Bridge League, and was also an ACBL certified director. Her greatest bridge love was teaching bridge, which she did several years at Arapahoe Community College and Jewish Community Center, both in Denver, and through the CLASS program in Salina.
She was baptized and confirmed at Evangelical Immanuel and Reformed Church in Herndon and maintained a loyalty to and affection for the church and its teachings throughout her lifetime. In later years she also embraced the teaching of Unity School of Practical Religion. In 1998, she became a member of Sunrise Presbyterian Church.
She is survived by one son, Rick and wife Bonnie Nicholson, of Salina; grandchildren, Rachel Ann and husband Sam Lada, of Salina, and Timothy John Nicholson, of Topeka, who were the light of her life; brother, Wayne and wife Phyllis Zwickle; two nephews; two nieces; and William Knox, her favorite partner in life and bridge.
She was preceded in death by son, Randy Nicholson, on April 5, 1996; father, Walter Zwickle, on Feb. 26, 1993; and mother, Lora Zwickle, on Jan. 4, 2010.
Memorial service will be at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 12, at Ryan Mortuary.
Memorials may be made to Silent Unity of Unity Village in Missouri, in care of Ryan Mortuary, 137 N. Eighth St., Salina, KS 67401.