Barbara Helen Sommer Nicholls, 80, of Hendersonville, N.C., died March 20, 2013. She was born Sept. 27, 1932, in Beloit, Wis., to Elmer and Elsie Sommer. On Sept. 7, 1952, she married Harold Nicholls, who survives. Her prior residences include Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana and Florida. She earned a bachelor’s degree from Manchester College, North Manchester, with additional graduate hours in areas of counseling and special education. She then earned a master’s degree from Saint Francis College, Fort Wayne. She taught home economics and special education in Indiana and Florida school systems; was a co-manager for Yeager Insurance, Warsaw; and the proprietor of Montgomery Ward Sales Agency, Warsaw. Also surviving are three sons: Jeffrey (and spouse Jackie) Nicholls, Anderson; Gregory (and spouse Laurie) Nicholls, West Chester, Ohio; and Scott (and spouse Lois) Nicholls, Timonium, Md.; and two, daughters Holly (and spouse Dave) McGuire, Warsaw, and Amy Nicholls, Greenville, S.C.; eight grandchildren (and three spouses); three great-grandchildren; and a sister, Karen (and spouse Dave) Wilharms, Wausau, Wis. She was preceded in death by her parents and a brother, Donald. Her formal activities and associations include serving as a Guardian Ad Litem in Florida, being a past state secretary and district II president of the Indiana Home Economics Association and serving as president of the active and associate chapters of Tri Kappa Associate Organization. She was also a past board member and secretary of Mobile Meals in Indiana, as well as a former president of Extension Homemakers Club and past county officer for Indiana. She was a Kosciusko Community Hospital Auxiliary member who also served as secretary and vice-president of the volunteer board. She was also a member of the American Association of University Women. She served as a board member of the Plantation Walk Neighborhood Association, Hendersonville, and was a former regent of the Joseph McDowell Chapter Daughters of the American Revolution, Hendersonville, and founded the Mary Coffin Starbuck Chapter for the National Society Colonial Dames XVII Century. She was a longtime member of Trinity Presbyterian Church, Hendersonville, North Carolina. She was an avid genealogist, finding her roots and gaining eligibility in the Daughters of the American Revolution, as well as founding the local chapter of Colonial Dames. She also served on several boards, traveled five continents, and loved to sail to many countries. She will be dearly missed by her loving family and by all who knew her, but leaves a legacy of many wonderful memories. Her family will remember her for a life that was giving and generous. A memorial service will be at 11 a.m. April 6 at Trinity Presbyterian Church, 900 Blythe St., Hendersonville, NC 28739, with a small reception immediately following. Shuler Funeral Home, Hendersonville, N.C., is in charge of arrangements. ***** Memorials may be made to the Hendersonville Rescue Mission, 639 Maple St., Hendersonville, NC 28792. Condolences may be sent via www.shulerfuneralhome.com
