Della Ruth Nichols, 94, of La Porte, Ind. passed away Saturday, May 30, 2020 at Life Care Center of Michigan City.
She was born Aug. 6, 1925 in Elkhart, Ind. to Walter and Ida Mae (Long) Ott.
On Feb. 10, 1945, in La Porte, she married William F. Nichols.
In 1940, Della was afflicted with polio; she was the first patient to have muscle replacement in Indiana.
During Word War II Della worked at Kingsbury Ordinance Plant and was known as “Rosie the Riveter.” She retired from American Home Foods, La Porte, where she was on the Jiffy Pop popcorn line.
A life-long resident of the area, Della was a member of the First United Methodist Church as well as a member of the Maple Leaf Motorcycle Club, Springfield Twp. She was an avid Notre Dame fan and loved everything to do with Notre Dame. Della also enjoyed NASCAR and was a hummingbird lover. She loved reading Danielle Steel books, cross stitch, knitting, and sewing, as well as craft work, playing bingo and crocheting. Because of her joy of camping, she spent 15 years in her second home at Campland in Frostproof, Fla.
Della is survived by two daughters, Linda Szymkowski of Michigan City, Ind. and Deborah (Ralph) Jones of Rolling Prairie, Ind.; son Garry (Paula ) Nichols of Trail Creek, Ind.; two sisters, Helen Schaible of La Porte and Mary Williams of Mesquite, Tex.; grandchildren, Danny, LaDonna, Brian, Phillip, Garry, Josh and Jenny; great-grandchildren, Mary Jayne, Colin, Lilianna, Dominic, Bailee, Lily, Camie, Calie, Aubrey, Adalynn, Gavin, Kevin, Kayla, Koral, Kyle, Taylor, Travis, Danielle, Brittany, and Nicole; a great-great-granddaughter, Jazmyn; and several cousins, nieces and nephews.
Preceding her in death were her husband in 2008; her parents; four sisters, Dorothy Nichols, Elzora Hawkins, Betty Tyler, and Lula Bell; and son-in-law, Larry Szymkowski.
Visitation will be from 10 a.m. to noon Wednesday, June 3 at Haverstock Funeral Home and Cremation Services, 602 Maple Ave., La Porte, where a funeral service will follow at noon with Jeff Zigler of First Church of God, La Porte, officiating. Interment will follow at the Pine Lake Cemetery, La Porte, Ind.
Memorial contributions may be made in Della’s honor to the South La Porte County Special Education Cooperative, 602 F St., La Porte, Ind. 46350 to benefit all students with specials needs.
Messages of condolence may be posted below on WNLP as well as at www.haverstockfuneralhome.com.