The Reverend Ronal Karl Freyer Nicholas, OSL, Pastor Emeritus of Tree of Life United Church of Christ, Roanoke, Virginia died peacefully Friday, April 26, 2019 at his residence.

He was born January 1, 1948 in Clifton Forge to O. R. and Cyntha (Childers) Nicholas.

He graduated from Clifton Forge High School in 1966. He earned a BA in psychology and religious studies at Lynchburg College in 1970 and earned a MSIS in Information Science at the University of Pittsburgh in 1976. In 1988 he completed a Masters of Divinity degree at Andover Newton Theological School, Newton, Massachusetts.

He was licensed in ministry by Clifton Forge Baptist Church in 1967 and ordained at First Baptist Church, Norwood, Massachusetts, for the American Baptist Churches, May 29, 1988, and served with his second wife, Rev. Inga Freyer-Nicholas, OSL, as pastor of churches in Massachusetts, Iowa, Utah, California, Wisconsin, Michigan, Florida, and Virginia, retiring in 2018. In 1992, he took vows in the (United Methodist) Order of Saint Luke and professed life vows in 2010.

He was preceded in death by second wife, Inga; his parents and eldest brother, Norman.

He is survived by a son, Andrew (Kristina) of Frederick, MD; two (step) daughters, Lisa Zifcak Dunn (Alvin), of Washington, DC, and Christina Zifcak of Brooklyn, NY; six grandchildren; a brother, Raymond (Mary) of Calabash, NC; nieces, nephews, and other family, including grandnieces, grandnephews, and a great-grandniece. He is also survived by ex-wife, Helen Harrison, Inverness, FL; and former domestic partner, Joyce Shores Gordon of Rocky Mount, VA.

Since ordination, he served in several associations and regions of the American Baptist Churches (ABC) as an officer. He also served a term as senator of the ABC Ministers Council. Besides the ABC, he had ministerial standing in the United Church of Christ (UCC), Disciples of Christ, and Baptist General Association of Virginia.

He taught psychology at Lynchburg College and was a medical educator at the University of Pittsburgh and University of Massachusetts Schools of Medicine. He was a lecturer in worship at Andover Newton and was a volunteer assistant professor of Worship and Pastoral Care at Milwaukee Theological Institute.

He wrote many articles for various publications and was a Contributing Editor for Robert Webber's eight-volume Library of Christian Worship (1992). During his years in ministry he served as a mentor for students at Lexington Theological Seminary in Kentucky.

The order for worship, according to customary UCC use, is adapted from "Service of Word and Sacrament I" and "Order for Thanksgiving for One who has Died" in The New Century Hymnal © The Pilgrim Press, 1995. Portions of the Eucharist are according to the United Methodist Book of Worship, © 1993.

As a vocalist, he sang in the Choirs of Clifton Forge Baptist Church and in several other churches. He was section leader, president, and student director of the CFHS Chorus and chosen for the All-State Regional Chorus and the All-Virginia Chorus. He sang in the Lynchburg College Touring Choir and was a singer and program manager of the Ecumenical Choir of Grafton, Massachusetts. He was a singer, translator, lecturer, and board member of the Central Florida Master Choir.

Also, he received the Vigil Honor from Shenandoah Lodge of the Boy Scouts Order of the Arrow; the Outstanding Volunteer Service Award of United Way of Central Massachusetts; and First in Class in Homiletics (preaching) from Andover Newton. He also served as a member delegate of the General Synod of the UCC (2011-2014). He was a member of First (American) Baptist Church, Midland, Michigan, and Founding Pastor and member of Tree of Life United Church of Christ, Roanoke.

In keeping with his wishes, his body has been cremated. A memorial service will be held on Monday, May 6, 2019 at 12:00 noon in Central United Methodist Church, Clifton Forge with Reverend Lynn Wright officiating. The family will visit with friends on Monday morning from 11:00 a.m. until the time of service at the church. A gathering of friends and family will be held after the service in the Fellowship Hall at the church.

Memorial gifts may be made to Central United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 16, Clifton Forge, VA 24422.

To send condolences to the family online, please visit www.nicelyfuneralhome.com.