Dr. James Nicholson

Dr. James E. Nicholson, a beloved physician, decorated war hero, devoted husband, and proud father, passed away peacefully at 94.
He lived a life marked by resilience, service, and extraordinary achievement.
A celebration of life will be 2:00 PM, Saturday, March 22, 2025, at First Presbyterian Church Rockwall with Rev. J.P. Marshall officiating. Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Coker-Mathews Funeral Home.
Dr. Nicholson entered the world in 1930 during the Great Depression and overcame early hardships that forged his enduring perseverance. He began his life in rural North Louisiana, where he experienced poverty and illness. After his father left to seek work and never returned, his grandparents raised him while his mother worked tirelessly to create a better future. Her strength and determination shaped the path he followed.
James grew up in south Dallas and developed grit, street smarts, and a strong moral compass. Volunteer coaches at the Salvation Army's Compton Citadel gym mentored him, sparking his passion for basketball and boxing. With encouragement from his peers, he joined the Crozier Tech High School basketball team and earned a varsity letter on a squad that won two state championships. He proudly became the first member of his family to graduate from high school.
After working as a telephone lineman and fry cook, he enrolled at North Texas University. When the Korean War broke out, he chose to join the U.S. Marine Corps. As ''Nick the Barman,'' he carried the Browning Automatic Rifle through five major combat campaigns in North Korea. He earned the Silver Star for heroically rescuing a mortally wounded comrade under fire and received a Purple Heart for injuries sustained during the assault on "The Punchbowl." He formed deep bonds with his fellow Marines that lasted a lifetime.
After the war, Dr. Nicholson returned home with a renewed sense of purpose and pursued his calling in medicine. He graduated from Southwestern Medical School in Dallas and completed his training at Baylor Medical Center. For more than six decades, he practiced family medicine in Greenville, Texas, delivering over 2,000 babies, making countless house calls, and enriching the lives of generations of families.
Dr. Nicholson played a central role in shaping the Greenville community. He co-founded the hospital now known as Hunt County Regional, served as Chief of Staff, and actively served on the boards of several civic and educational organizations, including the Greenville YMCA, the local school board, and the founding board of Alliance Bank.
As a gifted storyteller and historian, he authored the acclaimed book George - 3 - 7th Marines, which won the Gold Medal for Best Military History Book in the United States in 2014.
Demonstrating his vitality and commitment to giving back, Dr. Nicholson celebrated his 90th birthday in true adventurous spirit by skydiving to raise awareness for his beloved charity, the Birds Eye View Project.
Above all, Dr. Nicholson cherished his family. He shared a lifelong love with his wife, Wanda, and took immense pride in raising their four daughters Judy, Liz, Jennifer, and Rebecca and doting on their ten grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.
Dr. Nicholson lived a remarkable life of perseverance, honor, and compassion. He never forgot his roots and continued to serve others in battle, his medical practice, and his community. He lived a life full of meaning and ''wins'' and left the world better than he found it.
His family, friends, and the many lives he touched will deeply miss him and forever remember his legacy.
In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests donations be made to the Birds Eye View Project, 1314 W. McDermott, Suite 106-820, Allen, TX 75013. www.birdseyeviewproject.org