MIDDLETOWN, R.I. – Donald L. Nichols, 80, of 48 Arrowhead Lane, Portsmouth, R.I., died Friday, May 26, at Grand Islander Health Care Center. He was the husband of Thalia (Peterson) Nichols.

He was born in Lewiston, on Dec. 8, 1925, the son of the late Mancell and Helen (Kenney) Nichols.

He graduated from Worcester Polytechnic Institute. He held positions at General Dynamics, Raytheon and NUSC. He retired from NUSC as associate technical director in 1979, before finishing his career as a private consultant.

Besides his wife he leaves five sons, Alan Nichols of Santa Clarita, Calif., Jonathan Nichols of Branford, Conn., Christopher Nichols of Tucson, Ariz., Kendall Nichols of Reno, Nev. and Douglas Nichols of Tiverton, R.I.; two daughters, Margaret Nichols of Yuma, Ariz., and Sara VanHof of Portsmouth, R.I.; five grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.