Kenneth Lee Nicoles

Longtime resident Kenneth L. Nicoles passed away September 11, 2019.  He was 95 years old.

Kenneth was born in McMechen, West Virginia on November 21, 1923, to Virgil and Anna Nicoles.  The family later moved to Pennsylvania.  He graduated from Monaca High School in 1941 and married his high school sweetheart, Anna Morris.  They had 3 children.  They later divorced.

Kenneth was drafted in 1942 and went into the U.S. Army Air Corps.  He went for training in Nebraska as a radar observer on a B29.  He flew 35 missions over Japan, and was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross Air Medal with 4 oak leaf clusters.  He stayed in the Air Force after the war and served for 25 years.  He was sent to Berlin, Germany for the Airlift as an Air Traffic Controller.  It was there that he met his wife, Fay, who was in the British Army.  They were married in Cambridge, England on December 17, 1949.  He served in many places during his years in the Air Force and his last base was in Walla Walla.

The family decided to stay in Walla Walla.  Kenneth worked at Tillman’s in the camera department and then became a professional photographer for 35 years.  His passion was flying and he flew for skydivers for many years.  He was a member of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, Masonic Lodge, Shriners and a life member of Professional Photographers of Washington.

He is survived by his wife Fay of Walla Walla; children Kenneth Jr. (Carolyn) of Oklahoma, Jon (Johanna) of Pennsylvania, Judy (Tom) Carney of Florida, Paul (Maria) of New Jersey, Terry Nicoles and Sherry Nicoles of Walla Walla, 14 grandchildren, numerous great-grandchildren and five great-great-grandchildren, numerous nieces and nephews.  He was preceded by his parents; brother Dale Nicoles, sister Dolores, and a grandson Doyle Nicoles.

A Memorial Service will be held at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church on Saturday, September 21, 2019 at 2:30 PM, Reverend David Sibley officiant.

Memorial Contributions may be made to Shriner’s Hospital through the Herring Groseclose Funeral Home, 315 W. Alder Street, Walla Walla, WA 99362.