Glenn Nichols

Did you know him? He died in his sleep on April 9, 2010, after a short illness at age 91. Perhaps you knew him early in life as "Glenn" when he went through Grafton Elementary School (the old Norcross school on North Street, Grafton, now a little league baseball park), or Grafton High School (the Norcross Annex school on Worcester Street in Grafton). He was the son of a Grafton farm couple, Irving "Rocky" Nichols and his wife, Anna (Deschler) Nichols. Glenn was born February 26, 1919 in what is known as the "Willard House" in Grafton (now a clock museum near Tufts' Veterinary school) and grew up as a Grafton farmer. He married Lucy Allen of Charlton, MA, and they have been lovingly married for over 69 years until his passing. They raised three children - Joan (Nichols) Lowe of Westborough, MA, who was married to James Lowe until his death in 2006, Raymond Nichols of North Grafton who is married to Pamela (Crooker) Nichols and Gordon Nichols, who is married to Kathleen (Coyle) Nichols and who reside in Beaufort, South Carolina. Glenn and Lucy have been the proud grandparents of eight grandkids, and great-grandparents to thirteen children. Glenn was pre-deceased by his brother, Waldo, and Waldo's wife, Marion (Allen) Nichols. He was also predeceased by his granddaughter, Lucy Ann (Lowe) Taylor.

Perhaps you knew Glenn as "Rocky" when, in his middle years he was an avid member of the Grafton Candlepin Bowling league, or perhaps you helped him and his brother, Waldo, as they did the summer "haying" chores for their farm and helped a number of other farmers in Grafton, Westborough and Shrewsbury. Glenn did all of the mowing and baling in their hayfields, working with the Ford Ferguson farm tractor that he bought, brand new, in 1942 and still owned when he died. If you grew up and went to school in Grafton during the 1960's and '70's, then, most likely you rode on one of his school buses - maybe you were lucky enough to ride on the bus that he drove, himself, for those many years, as well as one of the many sports team buses he drove. Early riders knew him as "Mr. Nichols", but after his first grandchild was born he became, simply, "Gramps" and it stuck to this day. Everyone who rode his bus was treated like his own kids - that is to say, with respect, and everyone was always greeted warmly, by name, when they got on in the morning. Many school groups who were trying to go somewhere special and worthwhile, but had trouble raising enough money to get there, would often receive the offer of bus transportation for free, complements of Glenn. In the same period, Glenn and his whole extended family were avid snowmobilers and were frequently found sledding miles from their home into neighboring towns or visiting with friends in Southern Vermont to enjoy the trails and wildlife found there. Or perhaps you knew Glenn later in life, after the hustle and bustle of the school bus years were past and he "retired" to enjoy his family, tend to his vast vegetable garden, go cruising in his Motor Home, and run a small lawn mower and engine repair business out of his home based shop where you were always welcome to visit with Gramps for hours on end and hear "the rest of the story". Long-time "townies" still knew him as "Gramps" when they saw him and Lucy at one of their local haunts; the Grafton Inn, "Sebastians" or "Mulligans" at the Westborough Country Club. Glenn remained an avid gardener into his 90th year, but admitted to Lucy in 2009 that that "might be the last garden he could manage". Sometimes you just know these things. He joined many others as a life-long Red Sox fan. Perhaps you saw him fishing on the back streams of Worcester County, smoking his cigar or pipe to keep the black flies away, or driving the back roads of New England with Lucy and watching the wildlife that they both so loved. Many people knew Glenn. Many people loved him and called him their friend. A few of us were lucky enough to know him as a husband, father, grandfather or great-grandfather. Lucy and his family love him deeply and will miss him so….Perhaps you will also. Glenn's family also wishes to extend sincere thanks to the many healthcare professionals who helped him through his time of need. There will be a private Memorial Service for Glenn.. A reception and celebration of his life for friends and acquaintances will be held on Tuesday, April 13th, from 2 to 4 pm at the Rectory Hall of Saint Stephen's Episcopal Church on John Street in Westborough, MA. Memorial donations may be made in Glenn's name to the Grafton Food Bank, a group he and Lucy support. Funeral arrangements are in the care of The Roney Funeral Home in North Grafton. A Condolence Book may be signed and directions are available at:

roneyfuneralhome.com