BOMBER MEMORIAL

THEMLA DRUDEANA "DRU" NICHOLSON MARTIN ~ Class of 1962
July 31, 1944 - December 19, 2013

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Thelma Drudeana "Dru" Nicholson Martin was born July 31, 1944, at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Pasco and passed away unexpectedly at Kadlec Regional Medical Center on December 19, 2013. Dru was raised in Richland in a three bedroom prefab on Snow with 5 brothers and sisters. Dru told a lot of stories about what it was like to grow up in Richland in the 1950s. The Nicholson family was very musical and every gathering was spent eating, drinking and celebrating with music. She went to Marcus Whitman Elementary, Carmichael Junior High and was very proud to be a Bomber. She graduated from Col-Hi in 1962. She was especially proud that her grandchildren are third generation Bombers. She shared a very special bond with her brother, Max, all of her life.

In 1963, she met Clarence "Boots" Martin and in 1964 they married. She spent a short amount of time travelling for Boots' work but eventually returned home to Richland to start her family after the stillborn death of her son, Darren, in 1965. In 1968 Becky was born and shortly after, Shari, in 1970.

She was a homemaker and enjoyed cooking many delicious meals for the family. She raised her family boating on the Columbia River and picnicking at Howard Amon Park. She made the best potato salad and corn bread dressing. She was a caring mother who always had time to listen. She was a very special aunt to her numerous nieces and nephews. They loved their "Aunt Dru".

She was welcomed into heaven by both her parents, Betty and Ira C. Nicholson, her son Darren, special friend, Jerry, and many other close family and friends who have gone before her. She was also preceded in death by her siblings, Ira "Nick", Jr. ('51) (Janet), Earl Dean ('58) (Sally), and Rosanne ('56) (Lee).

She will be especially missed by her grandkids, Amanda, Melanie, Nathan, Allison, Rodney and Zane. She was always home, just down the street from where her grandkids were raised and they always knew where to go for a homemade snack. She also is survived by her daughters Becky ('86) Shari ('88), her siblings Delene ('70) (Darrell) and Max ('64) (Carol), numerous nieces and nephews, and other extended family.

The family would like to extend a thank you to her special friend Mona and the staff at Royal Columbian. Mother made friends wherever she went and she will be greatly missed by all who were blessed to have known her.

Services will be at Einan's Funeral Home in Richland. There will be a viewing on Sunday, December 22, 2013, from 4-7 pm and a funeral service at 11am on Monday, December 23, 2013, followed by a Graveside service and a reception at her daughter's home. Please join us in celebrating her life.

Express your thoughts and memories in the online guest book at Einan's Funeral Home.