1952-2025
On Wednesday, July 23, 2025, Robbie Nichols arrived safely at home and saw clearly for the first time.
Funeral services will be held at 1:30 PM on Saturday, July 26, 2025 at Calvary Chapel Ark City. Graveside services will follow at Parker Cemetery. No visitation is scheduled. Memorial contributions may be made to Calvary Chapel Ark City. Donations may be left in the care of the Shelley Family Funeral Home of Ark City.
He was born May 5, 1952 in Wichita, KS to Windell & Louise (Menard) Nichols. He attended school at the Kansas State School for the Blind & Visually Impaired in Kansas City, where he graduated from high school. He graduated from Cowley County Community College & later from Southwestern College with a Bachelor’s Degree in Education with an emphasis in History. After graduating from Cowley County, he moved to southern California, where he was involved in Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa ministries & worked for ITT Canon Electric. In 1977, he returned to Arkansas City. In February 1978, he married Diane Graham, and together they had two children, Charissa & Ryan. He taught at Community Christian School. During that time, he pastored the Fifth Avenue Presbyterian Church. He later became a teacher/principal at Calvary Chapel Christian School, and he also served as assistant pastor of Calvary Chapel alongside Mark Fry. After the school closed in 1998, he became a rehabilitation teacher for the blind for the State of Kansas, where he worked until he retired in 2019. For most of his adult life, he served in various worship ministries, including Calvary Chapel Johnson County, Calvary Chapel Wellington, Calvary Chapel Wichita, finishing at Calvary Chapel Arkansas City.
He is preceded in death by his father, Windell Nichols, and sister Cathy Nichols.
He is survived by his wife Diane of Arkansas City, children Charissa & Travis Dodge of St. Joseph, Missouri and Ryan & Erin Nichols of Arkansas City, grandchildren Lillie & Ian Dodge of St. Joseph, Missouri, and Violet & Norah Nichols of Arkansas City, mother Louise Nichols, brothers David & Randy Nichols, and sisters Karen Ramirez, Krista & Rosanne Nichols, numerous nieces & nephews, and countless disciples of Jesus Christ who called him their own.
