Ryan William Nicklin, 43, of Greenville, passed away on Monday, April 11, 2022, from a car accident in Warren County, Pa., near Hearts Content. Ryan loved this area near the family camp named Nick's Coop. He was scouting out good fishing holes to enjoy for a few days of fishing with his Air Force Academy friend when he passed.

Ryan was born Oct. 14, 1978, in Greenville to Darrell and Sue Anderson Nicklin.
He was an excellent student and member of the National Honor Society. As a guard, he played a key role in the 1996 Greenville High School football team that went to the PIAA State Final Four. In his senior year, he obtained the honor of Eagle Scout and graduated with honors from Greenville High School in 1997. He was the first of two GHS students to attend the United States Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs. There, he thrived and fell in love with the mountains, becoming an excellent skier. He especially loved time spent in beautiful Telluride, Colo., where he visited whenever possible for skiing, hiking, and fishing. Ryan was a distinguished graduate and was commissioned as a second lieutenant in 2001.

Ryan attended Euro-NATO Joint Jet Pilot Training at Sheppard Air Force Base in Wichita Falls, Texas. After receiving his USAF pilot wings, his passion to fly the A10 "Warthog" carried him to multiple combat deployments throughout the Pacific, Iraq, and Afghanistan.
He flew more than 50 combat missions in support of Operation Enduring Freedom and along the Korean peninsula's demilitarized zone.

Throughout his Air Force career, Ryan proudly flew with the 25th, 75th, and 354th Fighter Squadrons at Osan Air Base - Republic of Korea, Pope AFB N.C., and Davis-Monthan AFB, Ariz. Additionally, he served alongside the United States Army as an Air Liaison Officer at Ft. Irwin, Calif.

Wherever he served, he gave it his all.

Some of the many accommodations given him from his superior officers throughout his 13-year career were: "dedicated professional," "superb officer," "pinnacle of combat leadership," skilled administrator," "leader among peers," "outstanding aviator," "phenomenal combat performance," gold plated officer and warrior," "a driving force behind the unit's success."

He proudly obtained the rank of major.

While serving overseas, he remotely obtained his MBA from Boston University School of Management.

In 2013, he left the Air Force to return to his hometown, working at Anderson Coach and Travel in Greenville, the family business started by his grandparents, Dot and O.D. Anderson, where he served in many capacities.

He also served on the newly-formed Greenville Area School District Educational Foundation Board.

Ryan is survived by his parents, sister, and brother.

Proceeds from Maj. Ryan W. Nicklin’s bracelet will be donated to Legacies Alive.