Jack Bittinger McNicol

Jack Bitttinger Mc Nicol, 77, of Lester, passed away Thursday, December 11, 2008 in a local hospital.
Born July 20, 1931, in Oak Hill, he was the son of the late Amos Porter & Elizabeth Ellen Mc Nicol
He is survived by his wife of 54 years Nola Trail McNicol, the daughter of the late Thomas and Mary Trail of Lester.

Survivors include two sons Jack M. Mc Nicol of Newark DE
and Mark G. Mc Nicol of Lester, WV,; Daughters in Law Ruth Neal
of Newark DE. and Deborah Mc Nicol of Palm Harbor FL and Grandchildren
Mary Frances Mc Nicol of Beckley WV , Thomas James and Catherine Jane Mc Nicol
of Newark Delaware. Jack was very proud of his two sons both of whom followed him to Virginia Tech. Jack Michael attended Virginia Tech graduating with a degree in Mechanical Engineering and then attended Northwestern University obtaining a Masters Degree in Biomedical Engineering. Mark Gregory attended Virginia Tech graduating with a BS degree in Business Administration.

Jack resided at Summerlee, Prosperity, Sprague, and Beckley WV. during his youth Jack graduated from Woodrow Wilson High School in 1948. During 1948 and 1949 Jack attended Beckley College while working as general labor in area coal mining operations.
Jack entered Virginia Tech in January 1950 as an Student in Electrical
Engineering. Jack was a member of the West Virginia National Guard Company F, 150th Infantry at Beckley from 1946 through 1950. Jack was a member of the Virginia Tech Cadet Corps while a student at Va Tech and was a Distinguished Military Student and Distinguished Military Graduate. As a senior he was a company commander in the Va, Tech Cadet Corps.
Jack was a member of the varsity wrestling Team 3 years wrestling in the unlimited weight class. He was team captain of the 1953 team, won the Southern Conference championship in the unlimited weight division and participated in the 1953 NCAA wrestling meets.
Jack remained a “Hokie” throughout life as a huge VT sports fan and member of the “Hokie Club” and Alumni Monogram Club.
Jack graduated from Virginia Tech with A BS degree in Electrical Engineering in June 1953. He was then employed by Appalachian Power Co. as an Electrical Engineer until entering the US Army in February 1954 as a 2nd Lt.. Jack attended Basic Infantry Officer’s Course at Ft. Benning Ga Where he graduated at the top of a class of 200 fellow officers. He was retained at The Infantry School as an instructor in the weapons department of the Infantry School.
Jack was honorably discharged from the US Army as a 1st Lt in February 1956 when he returned to work for Appalachian Power Co.

In April 1957 Jack was employed by Allied Chemical Corp. Semet Solvay Division as an Electrical Engineer with the Coal Group. During a 23 year career at Allied Chemical Jack held positions of Electrical Engineer, Technical Assistant to the Supt., Asst. Superintendent, Mine Superintendent Tralee Mine, Mine Superintendent Shannon Branch Mine, Manager of Operation Services, Director of Mining Operations, and Vice President of Allied’s Coal Group. Jack retired from Allied in 1980 when Allied left the Coal Business and joined a small coal company as Vice President and later Company President.
Jack passed engineering examinations to become a registered Professional Engineer in 1960. In July 1981 Jack was employed by Industrial Fuels Corp. as Vice President General Manager of Chapperal Coal Corp. Jack was later appointed to Vice President of Industrial Fuels Corp. East Kentucky Operations and a successor company Costain Coal. Corp. In December 1995 Jack retired from the coal Industry and returned to his long held home near Lester WV. During the retirement obtained his pilot’s license and enjoyed flying as a recreation. During retirement Jack enjoyed riding his Harley Davidson Motorcycle, flying, boating and water sports, playing Golf, gardening, Virginia Tech sports, and being with his family. He was a member of the Church of Christ; worshipped at Church at Lester, WV

Funeral services will be conducted at 2:00 p.m. Saturday, December 13, 2008 in the Calfee Funeral Home Chapel with Fred Dinkler officiating. Entombment will follow in Sunset Memorial Park. Friends may call at the funeral home one hour prior to service on Saturday.

Family and friends will serve as pallbearers.

On line condolences may be left at www.calfeefh.com

In lieu of flowers the family requests donations to the Jack B. McNicol scholarship fund at Virginia Tech. Donations are to be sent to the Virginia Tech Foundation at Virginia Tech, University Development (0336), Blacksburg, VA 24061.