Martha Prince Nichols' Obituary
Martha Prince Nichols, 96, passed away peacefully on January 30, 2020.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Bud. She is survived by her
three sons, Robert, Rusty and Sandy, their wives, their children and great
grandchildren and her sisters Peggy and Patsy and their spouses.
A graveside Service will be held at 12:30 p.m., Saturday, February 1st at
Restland, 13005 Greenville Avenue with visitation at 11 a.m. A reception
will be held immediately following the service in The Founders Room at
Dallas Country Club.
Martha Belle Prince was born in Dallas on New Year’s Eve, 1923 to
William Dexter Prince and Lillian May Brown Prince. She loved her brother
Dexter and her sisters Catherine, Peggy and Patsy. Marty grew up at 3600
Armstrong, walked to Highland Baptist Church on Sunday and
graduated from Highland Park High School in 1941. She loved Highland
Park, music and her friends, many of whom lasted a lifetime.
On Thanksgiving Day 1941, Marty married Wallace Robert “Bud” Nichols, Jr.
After a honeymoon in New Orleans, they drove back to Dallas on December 7, 1941.Their lives changed that afternoon as they listened to the news. Bud went to war,but returned in 1945. Bud and Marty moved to Lubbock to open the Conley Lott Nichols store and made lifelong friends. In 1950, they returned to Dallas and their roots. Sons Robert, Rusty and Sandy all graduated from Highland Park.
Marty’s station wagon hauled athletes, cheerleaders, student council reps and exchange students all over Texas and was often seen at the Highland Park schools. In 1961-2, Marty and Bud hosted an American Field Service exchange student from Oslo, Yngve Hanish, who remained her surrogate son for 55 years,with many visits. Marty and Bud raised their sons and numerous surrogate sons to love school, athletics, fishing and the outdoors. After Bud’s death in 1965, she often dispensed loving support, chocolate chip cookies, blue berry muffins and Sunday breakfasts to a long list of neighbors, children, AFS students,her own children, and her children’s children. Christy was the first grandchild,followed by David, Jason, Wallace IV, Campbell, Will, Austin and Eloise.Then, thirteen great grandchildren: Hunter, Will, Sutton, Charlotte,Landon, Bobby, Wylie, Rusty, Haise, Graycie, John Thomas, Allie and Katherine.
She always focused on the children, but had time left for AFS, the Highland Park Alumni Association, her sisters and brother and her many surrogate sons and daughters. Marty was a cancer survivor, loved the outdoors, loved her home on Golf Drive and was loved by many, many people.
In 2002 she returned to her roots at Highland Baptist by joining Park Cities Presbyterian Church, in the same building where she worshipped with her mother and father.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a gift to the Highland Park Education Foundation or the Baylor, Scott, and White Foundation.
What’s your fondest memory of Martha?
What’s a lesson you learned from Martha?
Share a story where Martha's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Martha you’ll never forget.
How did Martha make you smile?
