Robert (Bob) Elwood Nichols of Birmingham, AL went to be with God on November 8, 2018. He was born March 12, 1929 in Clarksburg, WV. He was the only child of Max Elijah Nichols and Bertha Estelle Gabriel Nichols who preceded him in death.

 

Bob graduated from Unidis High School in West Milford in1947. He was a graduate of the Baltimore Institute of Photography and served in the United States Army as a photography instructor during the Korean conflict between 1951 and 1953.

 

After his military service, he was employed as a photographer by Ideal Studio in Clarksburg, WV and Paul Jack Studio in Parkersburg, WV before purchasing The Bell Studio in Bridgeport, WV 1959, which he and his wife owned and operated until 2002.  An active member of the Professional Photographers Association of West Virginia, he served twice as the organization’s president.  He earned the Certified Professional Photographer Degree and was awarded many honors for his work on the state and national level. 

 

He was often called “Mr Bell” as he photographed countless high school events, weddings, portraits and other businesses during his 43 years of recording the people and places of West Virginia. 

 

His love for photography was only surpassed by his love for God. As a result, Bob served 10 years as a part-time local pastor for the Tygart River Charge, Mon Valley District of the West Virginia United Methodist Conference, before retiring to Birmingham AL.

 

His ministry work continued in Birmingham through the Highlands United Methodist Church in Birmingham where he worked with the Community Ministries to help the poor and homeless.

 

Bob’s passion for his God, his family, and photography showed up in every conversation through the years, as he never met a stranger. His kindness, humor and faith will stand as his legacy to his family and friends who knew him best.

 

He is survived by his wife Barbara (Frush); daughters Roberta Nolte and husband Dan of Ona WV; Rebecca Nichols of Nashville TN; the three sons Roger Alan, and his wife Erika, of Nashville TN;  Kenneth and his wife Lori, of Birmingham AL and Joseph of Mars PA; two grandsons Ian Nolte (his wife Amy) and Max Nolte of Huntington WVand granddaughters, Harper, Zoe and Bella Nichols of Birmingham, AL and one great-granddaughter Eva Louise of Huntington, WV. 

 

A memorial service will be held at 4 p.m. Saturday, November 10, 2018 at the Highlands United Methodist Church 1045 20th St S, Birmingham, AL 35205 with a reception following the service. A memorial service will be held for his family and friends in West Virginia at a later date.

 

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial donations be made to the Community Ministries Fund of High­lands United Methodist Church (1045 20th St S, Birmingham, AL 35205) to help provide for the poor and homeless of Birmingham.