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Ralph A. “Hap” Nicholas, Jr., of Butler, PA, passed away
peacefully on June 2 in his beloved home in Slippery Rock Park,
PA at the age of 86.
Born on Aug. 27, 1924 in Butler to the late Ralph A.
Nicholas and Mary Jane (Hope) Nicholas, he was an active member
of the community and a dedicated husband and father. Mr.
Nicholas graduated from Butler Area High School in January 1942.
He attended Washington and Jefferson College (1946) pledging Phi
Gamma Delta in 1942.
In May 1943, he left to serve in World War II as an 8th
Air Force Flying Officer. He flew 20 missions over Germany in a
4-engine B24 Liberator Bomber until the War ended in May 1945.
He was awarded the European Theater Medal and the Air Medal with
two Oakleaf clusters.
On July 29, 1945, Mr. Nicholas married Mary Alice
Barker, with whom he had 5 children: Ralph A. “Hap” Nicholas
III, Rebecca Lila Mulligan, Lisa Konesni, Christopher R.
Nicholas and Joshua Scott Nicholas.
In 1964, he met Wanda Helen “Olga” Kosinski of Evans
City, PA, and they married on March 21, 1966. Together they had
one child, Samantha Drohan.
Mr. Nicholas was a past president of the Butler County
Board of Realtors, owning his own brokerage in the 1950s-1960s.
He was a former owner and president of Nicholas Enterprises,
Inc. and Freeport Terminals from the mid-1960s-late1990s,
subsequently remaining active as Chairman of the Board.
He also was Co-Founder of the Western PA Wing of the 8th
Air Force Historical Society and president of the PA Chapter of
the 8th AFHS.
Over his lifetime, Mr. Nicholas was a member of Covenant
United Presbyterian Church, the National Right to Work Legal
Defense Fund, the National Federation of Independent Business,
the Purple Martin Conservancy Society, the Butler Fraternal
Order of the Elks #180, Kiwanis International, and the National
Conservative Political Action Committee.
He was a proprietor for the Bartramion Audubon Society Bird
Sanctuary, a past president of the Butler Junior Chamber of
Commerce, and a former Board Member of the American Cancer
Society of Butler.
Mr. Nicholas greatly enjoyed writing, manicuring his property in
Slippery Rock, playing poker with his pals and spending time
with his family.
Surviving are his lifelong partner, Olga Nicholas;
children: Ralph A. “Hap” Nicholas, III (Victoria Ellis) of
Butler, PA; Rebecca Lila Mulligan (Patrick John) of Sellersburg,
IN; Lisa Nicholas Konesni (David V.) of Butler, PA; Christopher
R. Nicholas (Mary Jayne) of Mount Pleasant, SC; Joshua Scott
Nicholas (Scott Peterman) of Pittsburgh, PA; and Samantha Drohan
(Matthew W.) of Butler, PA; grandchildren: Ethan Ellis Nicholas,
Adam Ellis Nicholas, Colby Ellis Nicholas, Jessica Lila Altman
(Daniel), Brian Mulligan (Julie), Joshua David Konesni, Amelia
Konesni, Hillary Konesni Linzy (Leonard), Madeline Konesni,
Emily Nicholas Smith (Kevin), Mathew Norman Nicholas, Abigail
Hope Nicholas, Olivia Janet Drohan, Eliza Hope Drohan, and
Vanessa Helen Drohan; and great-grandchildren: Madison Linzy,
Harley Ann Smith, and Alexander Joseph Altman.
A private memorial service will be held for immediate
family at his home in Slippery Rock Park, PA.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations (tax deductible)
may be made to: The 8th Air Force Archives/Penn State
University, 104 Paterno Library, University Park, PA
16802-1808.
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