William Dudley Nicholson

William Dudley Nicholson, born February 15, 1934 in Culpepper, VA. to Edward and Nellie Nicholson, passed away on September 4, 2023. He was preceded in death by his parents and siblings. He is survived by his wife of 70 years, Oleda Nicholson, daughter Rendi Miller (Greg), sons Josh Nicholson (Jennifer) and Adam Gonzaga (Heidi). He is also survived by his nine grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.

Bill grew up in Virginia until getting married at age 19 and moving across the country, settling in Watsonville, CA. In 1958, he and Oleda began attending First Baptist Church in Gilroy, CA where they found Jesus as their Lord and Savior. That same year, he joined the Lathers Union and went on to work in construction for well over 40 years. Even after his retirement, he continued to take on construction projects for his friends and family.

In all aspects of his life, Bill worked extremely hard. He enjoyed restoring old cars, making wine, and volunteering for just about anything he could at church. Above all things, Bill loved his family. He was endlessly proud of his grandkids and would rarely miss a sporting event or performance. Bill was a cornerstone of his community and lived his life in service of others. He will be missed

dearly and his influence will continue to be felt for years to come.

A celebration of Bill's life will be on Saturday, September 16, 2023 at 1:00pm at New Hope Community Church in Gilroy. Viewing will precede the service from 12 - 1. Flowers can be sent to Habing Funeral Home or donations can be sent to Informed Choices of Gilroy in Bill's honor.

Published in Gilroy Dispatch · September 12, 2023