William NIX

GLOUCESTER - William "Henry" Nix, 88, of New Point and Gloucester, Va., died from complications of liver cancer on Thursday, July 8, surrounded by loved ones.
Henry was born Oct. 23, 1921, in Woodruff, S.C., to William Jesse and Goldie Nix. In 1942, he bought a used Model A Ford for $15, left the South Carolina textile mills and came to Virginia to work for the Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Company. During his 40-years at the shipyard, he worked on hundreds of ships, including the USS Yorktown, Enterprise, Robert E. Lee and the Shark, the yard's first nuclear-powered submarine. He retired as foreman of the nuclear pipe welding shop. Upon retirement, Henry opened N&N Services, a trailer sales and welding shop in Gloucester. In 1999, NOAA scientist Morgan Wells commissioned Henry to construct a two-man underwater sea lab, which now sits off Gwynn's Island.
Henry is survived by his beloved wife, Joanna Mullis Nix of Mathews; son, Boyd and daughter-in-law, Sharon Nix of Alexandria; sisters, Louise Sprouse of Spartanburg and Sarah (John) Bottoms of Nashville; stepdaughters, Joice (Steve) Burnette and Terry (David) Robinson of Mathews, and Amy (David) Halliwell of Poquoson; grandchildren, Michelle (Matt) Lyons of Gloucester, Laura (Wayne) Nix-Berg of Warrenton, Melissa Nix of Alexandria, Scott Halliwell of Poquoson, Sarah and Paul Burnette and Miranda Robinson, of Mathews; great-grandchildren, Alana and Ethan Lyons of Gloucester, Jennifer Byer of Fayetteville, N.C., and Jill Baugh of Tacoma, Wash.; great-great-grandchild, Ethan Baugh of Tacoma; and one precious Chihuahua named Tina.
His wife of 63 years, Estelle Naomi Clubb Nix, parents, Jesse and Goldie, and baby sister, Mildred preceded him in death.
The family will receive friends from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Saturday, July 10, at Foster-Faulkner Funeral Home, 160 Main St., Mathews, VA 23109. A service celebrating Henry's life will be held 2 p.m. Sunday, July 11, at Beulah United Methodist Church, 7505 New Point Comfort High Way, New Point, VA 23125, followed by a fellowship meal. Inurnment will be private at a later date.
The family extends their appreciation to Dr. Paschold and the staff of Sentara Williamsburg Regional Medical Center for their compassionate care.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Beulah United Methodist Church Building Fund, C/O Harlene Pritchett, 1061 Lighthouse Rd., Port Haywood, VA 23138, or to the American Cancer Society, www.cancer.org, or to the Gloucester-Mathews Humane Society, P.O. Box 385, Gloucester, VA 23061. View and post condolences on our online guestbook at dailypress.com/guestbooks.