Gloucester Alumni

DANBURY, N.H. — Ralph P. Nichols, 87, formerly of Peterborough, N.H., died Friday, June 26, 2009 at Lakes Region General Hospital.

He was born in Leicester, the son of Walter and Ethel (Perry) Nichols. He was a graduate of Gloucester High School, Class of 1939, and later Tufts Engineering in Medford.. In 1942 he enlisted in the U.S. Navy where he served as an Aviation Machinist's Mate, second class, until his discharge in 1945.. He lived in the Somerville area until 1984 when he moved to Tilton, N.H.. While in Tilton he owned and operated the Village Coffee Shop & Bakery.

Family members include four sons, Whitney D. Nichols and Ralph T. Nichols both of Brattleboro, Vt., Philip W. Nichols of Santa Fe, N.M., Andrew C. Nichols of Plymouth, N.H.; two daughters, Catherine J. Whitney of Sebring, Fla. and Nancy Stearns of Santa Ynez, Calif.; five grandchildren; one half-brother, Walter T. Nichols Jr. of Worcester; two half-sisters, Louise Chaffin of Linfield and Grace Shea of Quincy