Joseph Page Nichols

Our fearless “rock”, Joseph Page Nichols passed away peacefully at home, from cancer on May 12, 2022. Joe was born on June 4, 1933, in Salt Lake City to Joseph Irving and Pearl Page Nichols. Known as “J” to his family, he was the oldest of five boys. He spent his childhood exploring the hills of Millcreek Canyon, and playing sports, especially baseball. He graduated from Granite High School where he was a star baseball player and talented trombone and bassoon player in the orchestra. As a youth, Joe’s backyard adjoined the Trauffer family and young Gloria Trauffer stole his heart. They married in the Salt Lake Temple on August 27, 1954, sharing a double wedding with Gloria’s sister, Joy, and Herb Urry. Joe and Gloria embraced the challenge of raising their family of four sons.

Joe attended the University of Utah, where he was a member of the Sigma Chi fraternity, before he and Gloria moved to Maryland where he graduated from George Washington University. He was commissioned into the United States Air Force and was on active duty for 24 years as a pilot, missileer, and logistics officer. His Air Force career took his family to 12 locations across the United States and far away Australia. They enjoyed many adventures traveling and exploring. He also spent a year deployed to Thailand during the conflict in Vietnam. Joe served with great distinction, retiring as a Colonel in 1981. Following his Air Force career, he worked for the Garrett Turbine Engine Company in Phoenix. He and Gloria lived in Scottsdale for 22 years, before retiring to Midway, Utah.

Joe had a strong testimony of Jesus Christ and served faithfully in many callings in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. He served as a bishop twice and as the president of the Scottsdale Arizona Camelback Stake. In 2006, Joe and Gloria fulfilled a life-long dream to serve a full-time mission together in the Texas San Antonio Mission where they worked among the airmen in Basic Military Training at Lackland Air Force Base and among the soldiers at Fort Sam Houston Army Post. They often described their missionary service as one of the most fulfilling and wonderful assignments of their married life. Gloria, his cherished eternal companion of 53 years, passed away in 2008, shortly after their return from their mission.

Joe had a great capacity to love and was often sought out to provide trusted guidance and counsel to those struggling with challenges. He never met a stranger and was often greeted by name at his favorite restaurants. He endeared himself to all who knew him with his quick smile, warm hugs, and gregarious, self-assured nature, and made lifelong friends wherever he went. He was a “rock” to many who needed a steadying influence. He was a mentor and exemplar to his four sons and instilled in them a love of aviation, sports, country, and the gospel of Jesus Christ. His sons and their families were a great source of joy and satisfaction to him and he frequently traveled far distances to attend special occasions for his grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Joe remained in Midway until marrying Bernice Heyman Jones on September 4, 2015, and relocated to Cottonwood Heights where he and Bernice celebrated their wedding anniversaries monthly and enjoyed many happy days together enjoying concerts and plays, drives in the mountains, and spending time with their families and friends.

Joe is survived by his wife, Bernice, his four sons, Joseph (Diane), Steven (Rebecca), Richard, Robert (Suzanne), thirteen grandchildren and sixteen great grandchildren; and Bernice’s children Stan (Tadiana) Jones, Liz (Char) Jones, Craig (Kathy) Jones, and Doug (Holly) Jones, his brothers, Kaye, Doug (Janet), Keith (Cheryl), and sister-in-law Kathy Nichols. He was preceded in death by his wife Gloria, brother Mark, sister-in-law Mary Lou and daughter-in-law Christie.

The family wishes to thank Bristol Hospice for their professional assistance. We are comforted by the many neighbors, friends and ward members who have met our every need. Our sweet memories of Joe will forever keep him in our hearts.

A viewing will be held on Friday, June 3, 2022, in the Heber Valley Funeral Home, located at 288 North Main Street, Heber City, Utah from 6-8:30 PM. A graveside service will be held on Saturday, June 4, 2022, at 11 AM at the Midway Cemetery, located 600 West 500 South, Midway, Utah.