Raymond E. Nicholas, Jr.

Raymond E. Nicholas, Jr., 76 of Vienna passed away on Sunday, March 17, 2024 at Coastal Hospice at the L ake in Salisbury. He was born in Trenton, NJ on March 5, 1948, and was a son of the late Raymond E. Nicholas, Sr. and Flora Anne Johnson Nicholas. 

 Mr. Nicholas graduated from Cambridge High School, class of 1966 and went on to the University of Maryland College Park. He completed college at University of Baltimore with a Bachelor’s Degree in business. On July 19, 1980, he married the former Janet Eskridge. He spent his career of over 40 years on the family farm with his father, brother, and nephew. Mr. Nicholas was an avid golfer, skeet shooter, reader and enjoyed completing Sudoku puzzles. He was a member of the Chicone Ruritan Club and the Dorchester County Farm Bureau where he served in many capacities. For many years Mr. Nicholas welcomed student archaeologists to Nicholas Farms (formerly Dorco Farms) on Chicone Creek for excavations of the ancient Nanticoke village and reservation. His support enabled active farming and archaeological inquiry to co-exist and brought a greater understanding of the rich history of Dorchester County’s earliest natives. His years of sustained cooperation with students from Salisbury University, Washington College, and the University of Virginia is legendary among the Maryland archaeological community. 

He is survived by his wife Janet Nicholas of Vienna, a son Raymond E. Nicholas III and fiancée Estefania Vazquez, a sister Anne Montgomery of Great falls, VA, a brother Michael Nicholas and wife Norma of East New Market, a step sister Cheryl Krauss of Falls Church, VA, a step brother Alan Major and wife Jackie of Sarasota, FL, a step brother Brad Major and wife Karen of Plant City, FL. In addition, he is survived by nephews Ben Eskridge, Sam Major, Wesley Major, Jonathan Major, Brian Montgomery, James Nicholas, Michael Nicholas Jr., and nieces Emily Eskridge Gilmer and Katelin Major. He is survived by many great nieces and nephews. He is also survived by a brother-in-law Gary Eskridge and wife Pam of Galestown. Besides his parents, Mr. Nicholas is preceded in death by a stepmother Louise Knoor Nicholas, a half-brother Steve Nicholas, a brother-in-law John Montgomery and a niece Deborah Montgomery-Horlacher. 

A celebration of life will be held on May 4, 2024, at 2:00 p.m. at Thomas Funeral Home, P.A. in Cambridge with Rev. Al Taylor officiating. Family will receive friends one hour prior to the service. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to the Coastal Hospice Foundation, P.O. Box 1733, Salisbury, MD 21802 or to Wheatley Church Preservation Fund, c/o Joan Wheatley, 24012 Shufelt Road, Seaford, DE 19973 or to the Vienna Volunteer Fire Company, P.O. Box 5 Vienna, MD 21869.