Reuben Nichols

June 1, 1948 - March 2, 2021

Reuben Nichols, 72, of Eustis, passed away Tuesday, March 2, 2021 under the care of his family and Cornerstone Hospice. Born in Batang, China, Reuben was Tibetan. He was orphaned as an infant and adopted by missionaries Edgar and Mable Nichols. When he was one year old, Chinese Communism took over Tibet, forcing the missionaries to flee over high mountain passes in the dead of winter to enter India. Reuben and another adopted Tibetan, Andrew, did not have visas, and India could not allow them to stay as undocumented aliens. Thailand agreed to allow them for a period of time, and so Reuben and Andrew were put in the care of Dr. Garland Bare and his wife Dorothy while the Nichols went on to the US to seek legal entry for their boys. With the help of author James Michener, the red tape was cut and they soon arrived in Hawaii where the Nichols were ministering. Reuben met Connie Roth in 3rd grade. They dated in high school and were married after his 1st Air Force tour of duty in Vietnam. The Air Force sent him to Hawaii, where their son Raymond was born. Reuben moved to Eustis in 1979 from Joplin, Missouri. He is retired from Lake County Schools Transportation. He was a valued employee, a friend to many, member of Lake Eustis Christian Church, supporter of Christian missions, sharing skills in Haiti on numerous occasions, including being there at the time of the 2010 earthquake. He is survived by his wife of 50 years, Connie Nichols, Eustis, FL; son, Ray (Susie) Nichols, Eustis, FL; brother, Andrew Yee, Honolulu, HI; sister, Dorothy Nichols, Sargent, NE; 1 grandchild, Tyler Nichols. A celebration of Reuben’s life will be held at a Lake Eustis Christian Church, Eustis on Sunday, April 25, 2021 at 3:00 PM. For safety reasons, the family has requested everyone please use a face covering and stay socially distant from others. Online Guestbook available at www.hardenpauli.com Arrangements by Harden/Pauli Funeral Home, Eustis