Philip Van Kleeck Nichols
August 20, 1940 ~ October 22, 2012
Born in Cairo, Egypt on August 20, 1940, Philip V.K. Nichols spent his early years in Egypt, Illinois, Colorado, California, and Washington State before entering the United States Marine Corps in 1960. His six year tour took him all over the world, though he spent his most memorable years as an Embassy Security Guard in Mogadishu, Somalia, and Cairo, Egypt. Upon completion of his service in Quantico, Virginia, Phil was hired by the U.S. Department of State in 1966, where he served in the Operations Center. He moved on to work as a computer programmer and later as a Supervisory Systems Manager until his retirement in 1999. He returned to the State Department as a contractor before fully retiring in 2005. In his personal life, Phil was an avid collector, amassing a comprehensive collection of stamps and coins over his lifetime. To all who knew him, however, his first and most passionate interest was ancient Egypt. It remained a lifetime passion and one that he passed on to his entire family. Another passion he developed over the last 10 years was researching the Nichols family genealogy. Involved in his community, he served the Boy Scouts of America as a local leader for nearly a decade, first as Cubmaster of Pack 1963 and later as Assistant Scoutmaster of Troop 1113 in Fairfax, VA.
He is survived by Joyce, his wife of 30 years, and his three adult children Samantha, Philip, and Capt. Marc (USAF). He is also survived by his three grandchildren: Elizabeth Jordan, Gretchen Nichols, and Danny Killion; three sisters Francie Nichols (Gary Sankey), Barbara Nichols Martin (Barry), Simone Nichols; two nieces Lynn Wilson and Barbara Pitts McAdams, one nephew Todd Pitts and several great nieces and nephews.
Relatives and friends are invited to Philip's Life Celebration at Money and King Funeral Home, 171 W. Maple Ave., Vienna, VA on Tuesday, October 30 from 10:00 AM until time of funeral service at 11:00 AM. Marine Corps Military Honors will follow the service in the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations may be made to the Wounded Warriors Project. If you are interested, please go to their website and make a one-time gift in memory of Philip Van Kleeck Nichols.
Funeral Home:
Money & King Funeral Home
171 W. Maple Ave.
Vienna, VA
US 22180
He is survived by Joyce, his wife of 30 years, and his three adult children Samantha, Philip, and Capt. Marc (USAF). He is also survived by his three grandchildren: Elizabeth Jordan, Gretchen Nichols, and Danny Killion; three sisters Francie Nichols (Gary Sankey), Barbara Nichols Martin (Barry), Simone Nichols; two nieces Lynn Wilson and Barbara Pitts McAdams, one nephew Todd Pitts and several great nieces and nephews.
Relatives and friends are invited to Philip's Life Celebration at Money and King Funeral Home, 171 W. Maple Ave., Vienna, VA on Tuesday, October 30 from 10:00 AM until time of funeral service at 11:00 AM. Marine Corps Military Honors will follow the service in the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations may be made to the Wounded Warriors Project. If you are interested, please go to their website and make a one-time gift in memory of Philip Van Kleeck Nichols.
Funeral Home:
Money & King Funeral Home
171 W. Maple Ave.
Vienna, VA
US 22180
Semper Fi, Devil Dog…I’ve got the watch, you are relieved. Love you Dad.
The streets of Heaven are by far the most honorable post. Guard it well for one day we will all stand watch together. Semper Fidelis Philip.
Joyce, family and friends, I am sorry to hear about the loss of Phil. My thoughts are with you during this difficult time. Love, Lucie
I dearly empathize, having lost my mom 2 years ago… no words can describe the emptiness… yet take comfort in the eternal light, as he surely is embraced by it once again… God knows your father as a kind, honorable man, who genuinely loved his family…and always will.
Joyce and Family — Please accept my deepest condolences. My thoughts and prayers are with you. God bless.
Samantha, Philip (aka Boo LOL) Marc and Joyce. So sorry to hear of Phil’s passing. He was such a great and loving man. Reading about his love for Ancient Egypt reminded me of how patient he was helping me with a report I did on Egypt in my youth ! And taking my family to see King Tut’s treasures when they were first at the Smithsonian. We were all excited but none more than he was !! I wish I could be at the service but you all will be in my thoughts and prayers ! Love you all !
Joyce and family, so sorry to hear about Phil. Please know you are in my thoughts and prayers. With love, Darlene
It is with great sorrow and sadness that I learned of the passing of Mr. Philip Nichols. A special bond has always existed between us sharing the same birthday (although 9 years apart)and birth city of Cairo, Egypt. With his gentle, self-effacing disposition, what a pleasure it was to always chat with him about our memories of Egypt, history, scouting,politics, economics, but most of all his beloved family. I truly enjoyed his company. He was a man of great cordiality, civility, and humanity. To Mrs. Nichols and Marc (both of whom I have personally known)and to the rest of the family and friends, please accept my truly heartfelt condolences. We will all greatly miss him.
Joyce and Phil’s family, Erma and I want to express our most sincere condolences for his passing. I will never forget the time I spend with him in Hawaii. Although he was only about two years older than me, I have always looked up to him as a mentor and dear friend. He enjoyed life and was able to pass this on to those around him. I will miss him.
Dear Joyce & Family, Although you might not remember us, we wanted to extend our deepest sympathy in your loss. We knew Phil and the family back in the late 60’s early 70’s, when we resided in Quebec Apartments in Arlington. Many fond memories have remained with us over these many years. Please know that you are all in our thoughts and prayers. Sincerely, Max & Pauline Roesch
I am so sorry to hear of your loss, I shared many fond memories with Phil on the FAIS project. He spoke so fondly of his family and we use to laugh about him having the platinum children while I only had the golden child. He was a good and gracious person and it is such a loss to the world to have his departure so early.
My deepest sympathy to your family at this sad time. My prayers are with your family.
Phil & Family, So sorry to hear of your dad’s passing. You all have my deepest sympathy and I will be keeping you all in my thoughts and prayers during this difficult time.
Phil was my boss for many years and he made me a better worker and a better man. I never worked so hard in my life and enjoyed it so much. Thank you Phil.
So sorry to hear of Phil’s passing. He was my Best Man for my marriage to my wife, Anne when we were both (Phil and I) stationed in H&MS-13, MAG-13, MCAS Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii, 21Jul62. He was a fine man. I just thought of him because a “security question” on a web-site was for the name of my Best-Man. We lost track of Phil after I was transferred to Group HQ. I read in the Obituary that he stayed in for six years and went on to Somalia and Egypt, then hired on with the State Department. I took Discharge after 4 1/2 years, took Physics at the University of Illinois, and hired on with the Babcock & Wilcox, Naval Nuclear Fuel Division, Lynchburg, Virginia. They payed for my Masters in Physics, and my Masters in Business Administration. Anne and I also have three children (two boys and a girl – just as you, except we decided we had better adopt in order to get a daughter, we adopted from Chile since we wanted to pick the gender and we wanted an infant). I, also was active in the Scouting Program, Cub Scout Den Leader, and Boy Scout – Scout Master. Both of the Boys completed Eagle. The elder is a Paramedic in Tampa-St. Pete, the younger is a Pediatric Endocrinologist. Our daughter has given us two really sweet grandchildren, in Charlotte, NC. It is kind of strange we both ended up in Virginia, and had two boys and a girl. I have thought of Phil several times over the years. Back in about 1997 I tried to find him through the Internet but was unsuccessful. Again, please accept our condolences. Terry and Anne Logan guyverIV@comcast.net