Joan L. Nichols, 810 Walnut St., Lebanon, died Sunday, April 21, 1996. Born in Philadelphia to the late Robert A. Nichols Jr. and Retta Gillin Nichols, she graduated from Mater Misoricordia Academy, Marion Station, then graduated summa cum laude from College Misericordia with a B.A. in English. She was elected to Kappa Gamma Pi, the National Catholic Honor Society, and received an M.A. in English from the University of Pennsylvania. She was chairman of the English Department at Lebanon High School, and advisor of many activities, including the school year-book, Pegasus Club, a poetry club, Tri-Hi-Y, the commencement program and speakers. She was listed in the International Who's Who in Poetry, had poems published in various anthologies and periodicals, was chairman of the Lebanon County Poetry Day and former member of the American Poetry League, and annually published student anthologies of original poems. Among her predilections were church, family, friends, art, books, and travel, with her travels taking her throughout the United States, Canada, Bermuda, Europe and the Brittish Isles. She was a member of the Assumption of the Blessed Mary Church, its Parish Councilof Catholic Women, the Alumni Associations of Mater Misericordia Academy, College Misericordia and the University of Pennsylvania, Friends of the Gallery of Lebanon Valley College, Rotary Club Travel and Adventure Series, Lebanon Community Concert Association, Children and Youth Services Citizens' Advisory Committee, Lebanon County Historical Society, American Red Cross, Lebanon County Pennsylvania Association of School Retirees, Republican Committee of Lebanon County, and Friends of the Lebanon Community Library. Surviving are a sister, Valerie M. Nichols, Lebanon; and a brother, the Rev. Joseph E. Nichols, Baltic, Conn. She was preceded in death by a brother, Robert A. Nichols III, and a sister, Frances V. Nichols. (Lebanon Daily News, April 23, 1996)