Ralph A. 'Hap' Nicholas Jr.
Ralph A. “Hap” Nicholas Jr., of Butler passed away peacefully Thursday in his beloved home in Slippery Rock Park at the age of 86.
Born 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 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 Oak Leaf Clusters.
On July 29, 1945, Mr. Nicholas married Mary Alice Barker, with whom he had five 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, and they married 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 to the 1960s. He was a former owner and president of Nicholas Enterprises and Freeport Terminals from the mid-1960s to the late 1990s, subsequently remaining active as chairman of the board.
He also was co-founder of the Western Pennsylvania Wing of the 8th Air Force Historical Society and president of the Pennsylvania Chapter of the 8th AFHS.
Over his lifetime, Mr. Nicholas was a member of the 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 Bartramian 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, Rebecca Lila Mulligan (Patrick John) of Sellersburg, Ind., Lisa Nicholas Konesni (David V.) of Butler, Christopher R. Nicholas (Mary Jayne) of Mount Pleasant, S.C., Joshua Scott Nicholas (Scott Peterman) of Pittsburgh and Samantha Drohan (Matthew W.) of Butler; 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.
<B>NICHOLAS </B>— A private memorial service for Ralph A. “Hap” Nicholas Jr., who died Thursday, June 2, 2011, will be held for immediate family at his home in Slippery Rock Park.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.Information and a private guest book are available at www.thompson-miller.com.
