Sylvia Ruth Nichols of Evansville, IN died on Sunday, January 18, 2026, after a brief illness.
Sylvia Ruth Nichols of Evansville, IN died on Sunday, January 18, 2026, after a brief illness. She was born on November 14, 1940, in Alton, IL to Esther and Howard Gebelein and grew up in South Roxana, IL.
She graduated from Eastern Illinois University and began her career teaching chemistry and math at Lawrenceville High School. She also taught chemistry and math at Red Hill High School. On June 16, 1962, she married Dale Nichols who preceded her in death. They resided in Lawrence County, IL for many years where they owned and operated Nichols Funeral Homes in Bridgeport, Lawrenceville, and St. Francisville. They then moved to Edwardsville, IL to pursue a new business opportunity as co-owners of S+N Graphics, where she served as president of the company. In her later years, she moved to Evansville and became very active in several different organizations.
Sylvia was a member of First Presbyterian Church of Evansville where she was a choir member. She was active in many different affairs at Eastern Illinois University. Sylvia was a PEO Golden Girl, Master Gardener, member of the Evansville Philharmonic Orchestra Guild, and an avid tennis player for over 50 years. This meager list merely scratches the surface of all of the organizations that she served and led throughout her life.
Survivors include her son Tom (Deb) Nichols of Haubstadt, IN; sister Marion Skundrich of Bethalto, IL; brother John (Linda) Gebelein of East Alton, IL; and brother Don (Pat) Gebelein of Fairfield, OH; sister in-law Sandra Wiggin of McLeansboro, IL; 2 granddaughters Julia (Hayden) Baehl and Elizabeth Nichols; 3 great grandchildren (Russell, Louise, and Warren Baehl), 1 nephew and 4 nieces.
Services will be held at the Cunningham-Young Funeral Home in Lawrenceville, IL on Thursday, January 22, 2026. Visitation will be held from 10:00 am until 12:00 pm. Funeral services will follow immediately at 12:00 pm with burial following in the Lawrenceville City Cemetery.
During her tenure on the Eastern Illinois University Foundation Board, Sylvia established a scholarship fund. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the EIU Foundation c/o the Sylvia R. Nichols Scholarship, 860 W. Lincoln Ave., Charleston, IL 61920; or make your gift on-line at https://www.eiu.edu/giving.php enter the amount, then select other gifts in the drop down menu and note the Sylvia R. Nichols Scholarship in the special instructions box.
Online condolences can be sent to the family at www.cunninghamfuneralhomes.com.
