Mabel A. Nicholas

Mabel A. Nicholas, 92, of Lawton passed away Monday, Feb. 9, 2015, at Kingsley Nursing and Rehab Center in Kingsley, Iowa.
Services will be 2 p.m. Friday at Community Presbyterian Church in Lawton, with the Rev. Cindy Ripperger officiating. Burial will be in Banner Township Cemetery. Visitation will be 1 p.m. until service time Friday at the church. Arrangements are under the direction of McCulloch Chapel, Christy-Smith Funeral Homes in Moville, Iowa.
Mabel Alvina Nicholas was born on June 5, 1922, at St. Vincent Hospital in Sioux City. She was the first born daughter of Clinton C. and Clara (Anders) Nicholas. Mabel attended grade school at country schools in the Elk Point, S.D., and Moville areas. She graduated from Lawton Consolidated School in 1940 after her family moved to Lawton in 1937. Mabel continued her education at NBT in Sioux City. She worked at Anderson Furniture Store in the accounting/credit office.
In 1942, Mabel moved to Washington D.C. She started as a civilian clerk typist in the U.S. Army Air Force Postal Service, advancing to statistics, budget and logistics for mail services for all branches of the military during the war. After the war, she worked in the State Department, Pentagon Military Postal Service, retiring in 1984 after 42 years of service.
Mabel lived with the Roy and Marie Ewers family from the time she moved to Washington until 1966 when she purchased her home in North Arlington, Va. She received her pilot's license in August 1951 and didn't get her driver's license until December of that year.
Mabel enjoyed travel both in the United States and abroad, flower gardening, her hiking club and visiting with family and friends. She was very active at Westover Baptist Church in Virginia. Mabel taught 3-year-olds in Sunday School and served as a deacon, church clerk and was on several committees.
In 1990, Mabel moved back to Lawton to take care of her mother, Clara, until her death in 1999 at 104 years old. While in Lawton, Mabel was an active member of the Dancing Grannies and Grandpas, Community Presbyterian Church, the American Legion and UTD Study Club.
Mabel is survived by a sister, Lois Moss of Lincoln, Neb.; sister-in-law, Ruth Nicholas; nieces, Linda Brill and Ruth (Tom) Lantis; and nephews, Grey (Lan) Brill, Wayne (Teresa) Brill and Mark Brill.
She was preceded in death by her parents; sister, Irene (Roland) Brill; a brother, Glenn Nicholas; and a niece, Gail Moss.
Memorials may be directed to the Community Presbyterian Church in Lawton.