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Nina Nichols Holmes was born February 15, 1935, in Morris, Oklahoma, to the late Paul F. Nichols and Gardner Ray Nichols
On January 21, 2020, Nina died peacefully in her sleep at home with her husband, Jerry D. Holmes, and their dear Scottie, Bridget. When Jerry checked on her at 11:30 PM, on January 20, 2020, she was sleeping, and he stroked her hair and told her he loved her. She smiled a faint smile and nodded that she loved him too. However, at 12:30 AM, on January 21, 2020, she stopped breathing. She had passed gently in her sleep.
Before going to bed, Jerry prayed to our Heavenly Father that He not let her suffer any longer. Before another hour had passed, his prayers were answered. Nina went permanently to sleep, never to suffer pain or weakness again. Jerry had always told her that he wanted to outlive her, so he could take care of her for the rest of her life. That was accomplished.
Nina and Jerry met when they were seven years old in the second grade at Central Grade School in Wewoka, Oklahoma. Nina wouldn’t pay any attention to him until their sophomore year in Wewoka High School. It was then, in 1950, that they started dating, and they never dated anyone else after that. They both always knew that they would spend the rest of their lives together. He never asked her to marry him, and she never asked him to marry her. They both knew that it would happen. They set the date of their wedding on August 17, 1953, so they could go to the University of Oklahoma together where Jerry would get his engineering degree. Jerry finished his BS in Geological Engineering in 1958.
After working for Cities Service Oil Company for eight months, and living in Odessa, Texas where Jerry drilled oil wells, Jerry and Nina entered the U.S. Air Force where he served as a fighter pilot for 31 years. From September 1958 until September 1989, they lived in seven states and five countries, and they loved every place they lived. Nina served all that time as a fighter pilot’s wife and constant companion
They came back home to Norman, Oklahoma, in September 1989, and have lived there ever since. Jerry lost his sweetheart and best friend. He expects to join her soon. Their lives were so much a part of each other’s, they’re truly one together.
They have two wonderful children, Joseph (Mesa, Arizona) and Kelly (Hampton, Virginia), six grandchildren, and eleven great grandchildren. Nina is also survived by her sister, Anita Nichols Shilling. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by one sister, Tommie Nichols Pool.
Nina did a great job raising their kids while Jerry was off flying combat missions or training to fly combat missions. Every step along the way of their Air Force career, they were equal partners. Jerry said he could not have done the things he did without her by his side. He said that all the great assignments he had in the Air Force were because of his wife, Nina. The Air Force got the two of them for the price of one. All the things they have done, they have done together. They have been equal partners in life. Their mission is accomplished now. They expect to spend eternity together.
Jerry told Nina, “Wait for me sweetheart. I will be along as soon as I can, and we will be together again forever. I love you”.
A Memorial Service will be held at 11:00 AM on Tuesday, January 28, 2020, at Havenbrook Funeral Home in Norman. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service at the funeral home.
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