Obituary: Paul Nicholson

Services for Paul Nicholson, 76, Weatherford, Okla., were Thursday, Nov. 3, 2005, at the Weatherford First Baptist Church, with Revs. Leroy Boatman and Alberta Helton officiating. Burial was Friday, Nov. 4, 2005, in Hubbel Hill Cemetery, Tonganoxie, with the Rev. Gene Spillman officiating.

Mr. Nicholson died Oct. 31, 2005, at Integris Baptist Medical Center in Oklahoma City. He was born Jan. 17, 1929, in Lansing, the son of James and Barbara (Swiderski) Nicholson.

He was raised and attended school in Lansing, where he graduated from high school.

On June 1948, he married Velma Whitaker in Lawrence. Mr. Nicholson worked for Phillips Petroleum Company for six years before working overseas in Batman, Turkey, and Baghdad, Iraq. Upon returning to the states he worked for several refining companies all over the United States.

On April 5, 1991, he married Genett Spillman in Tonganoxie, and the couple made their home in Thomas, Okla. They moved to Weatherford where he worked for Barrett Refining, retiring in 2000. After retirement, he continued working as a consultant in oil refining.

Survivors include his wife, Genett of the home; a son, Larry Nicholson, Austin, Texas; a stepson, Festus Crowl, Hinton, Okla.; three stepdaughters, Kimberly Harrelson, Pace, Fla., Kristi Perkins, Thomas, Okla., and Janet Crowl, Pine Bluff, N.C.; 11 stepgrandchildren; and one stepgreat-granddaughter.

The family suggests memorial contributions in memory of Paul and Velma Nicholson to the children’s department of First Congregational Church in Tonganoxie.

Lockstone Funeral Home, Weatherford, handled arrangements.