John M. Nicholson, Jr., 67, of Bridgeport, passed away Tuesday, April 8, 2014, in Ruby Memorial Hospital. He was born January 13, 1947, in Clarksburg, a son of the late John M. and Thomasina Gallo Nicholson.
He was preceded in death by his first wife, Joyce Nicholson, on April 3, 1998. He is survived by his second wife, Pam Lauderman Nicholson, whom he married February 17, 2001.
Also surviving are three children, Kevin Nicholson and his wife Debbie, Fairfax, VA; Mary Kelly and her husband James, Greensboro, NC; and Kammi Sharpe and her husband Brian, Sterling, VA; a stepson, Robert Freeman, Fletcher, NC; six grandchildren, Teresa Heavilin, Patrick Sharpe, Kyle Nicholson, Brandon Sharpe, Jenna Nicholson, and Cheryl Sharpe. A brother, Ed Nicholson and his wife Barbara, Bethesda, MD; nieces and nephews, Amanda Romanowski and her husband Todd, Glendale, AZ; Joey Nicholson, New York City; Carol Simonyi, Morgantown; Jason Cottrill and Jeremy Cottrill, both of Clarksburg, complete his family.
After graduating from West Virginia Wesleyan College with a BS in business and accounting in 1967, John moved to Northern Virginia and took an analyst position with the General Accounting Office. John served as a Senior Analyst at the GAO, responsible for audits of the government’s food safety and security programs. The GAO recognized John for providing high-quality technical assistance on food safety issues to GAO staff and congressional clients.
He was Past Master of Alexandria-Washington Lodge #22 in 1985, and the lodge is located in the George Washington National Masonic Memorial in Alexandria, VA. He was a member of the Scottish Rite Valley of Clarksburg, 32nd Degree KCCH; Order of the Amaranth Grand Royal Patron, Nemesis Temple Shrine, Central WV Shrine Club, and served as Chairman of the Children’s Screening Clinic. He was a Masonic Youth Group Sponsor of DeMolay and Job’s Daughters. He was honored with the Cross of Honor and the Prestigious Legion of Honor by the DeMolay. He was also honored by Job’s Daughters by being made an honorary Jobie.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to the Shriners Hospital for Children, 2900 Rocky Point Drive, Tampa, FL 33607; or the Amaranth Diabetes Fund, American Diabetes Association, 1701 N. Beauregard Street, Alexandria, VA 22311.
Friends will be received at Burnside Funeral Home, 607 S. Virginia Avenue, Bridgeport, from 2 – 8 p.m. on Friday, where services will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, April 12, 2014, with Pastor Kevin Nuzum presiding. Interment will follow in Bridgeport Cemetery.