Nyle Wilson Nicholas, age 79, of Dunbar, WV, passed away on February 28, 2008 at home surrounded by his family.

Nyle was preceded in death by his parents, Hope Wilson Nicholas and Denver B. Nicholas of Grantsville, WV, and by his daughter, Karen Nicholas Fisher and his great grandson, Jacob Wade Nicholas.

He is survived by his beloved wife of 58 years, Doris R. Nicholas. Also, by his daughter, Linda Nicholas Smyser and her husband, Michael of Reston, Va; sons, Stephen Nyle Nicholas of Virginia Beach, Va. and Jeffrey Kyle Nicholas and his wife, Brenda of St. Albans, WV. Nyle has 11 grandchildren and 9 great grandchildren and a very special girl, Breanna, all of whom were the "lights of his life."

He was a member of the First Baptist Church of Dunbar and was Past Master of the O'Dell Lodge #115-AF & AM, Grand Lodge of West Virginia. Nyle retired from Liquid Transport in Charleston and attended schools in Grantsville and Glenville State College. He served in the US Navy during WW II, spent nine months in the Naval Hospital in Dublin, Ga. and served aboard the aircraft carriers USS Midway and the USS Coral Sea.

Funeral services will be held at noon today at Keller Funeral Home, Dunbar, with the Rev. Thomas E. Stevens, officiating. Burial will be at 3 p.m. at the Bethlehem Cemetery in Calhoun County, WV.

The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service at Keller Funeral Home, Dunbar.

The family gratefully acknowledges the physicians at Dunbar Medical Associates, the Thomas Home Health Services nurses, the caring staff of Right at Home and HospiceCare. The family also appreciates the comfort and consolation of friends and Pastor Tom of the First Baptist Church of Dunbar during Nyle's long valiant struggle with Alzheimer's.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions to HospiceCare, 1143 Dunbar Avenue, Dunbar, WV 25064 or www.hospicecare.wv.org.