Heather " Noel " Nichols Olin
Heather “Noel” (Nichols) Olin, 50, passed away peacefully at her home in Troutville, VA on October 15, 2025 surrounded by loved ones after a valiant four-year battle with breast cancer.
Noel was born on December 13, 1974 in Gallipolis, Ohio to Paul Wayne and Jennifer Carol (Warren) Nichols of Point Pleasant, West Virginia. She graduated from Point Pleasant High School in 1993 and graduated from Marshall University in 1998 with a degree in Elementary Education. Instead of entering the classroom, her initial career focused on educating people about fashion through her various jobs at New York & Company retail stores in Huntington, WV; Parkersburg, WV; and Columbus, OH. Noel was a proud member of the flag corps for both the Point Pleasant High School Black Knight marching band and the Marshall University Marching Thunder.
Noel married Dustin Olin on April 21, 2007 in Point Pleasant, WV, and they shared 18 years of blissful marriage. After traveling to Wisconsin, Michigan, and Nebraska for Dustin’s work in construction, they settled down in the Roanoke, VA area in 2009 with plans to expand their family. Noel started working for Branch Group in 2015 in various roles, including Operations Assistant and Document Control / Compliance Specialist. She loved her Branch colleagues like family. Noel gave birth to Alexander “Xander” Olin on June 29, 2013, and he became her new purpose in life. Even though Noel was looking forward to her eternal life in Heaven, she was saddened to be leaving her two main men too soon.
Noel’s main hobby was “people.” She was always helping, connecting, encouraging, and supporting everyone around her. She was a woman whose heart knew no boundaries-loving everyone as if they were her own flesh and blood. Her kindness was not reserved for family alone, but poured freely into the lives of friends, neighbors, coworkers, and children. To her, love had no boundaries. Whether by blood or by bond, each child was held in her heart just the same.
In addition to Dustin, Xander, and her parents, Noel is survived by her brother Andrew Nichols (Kristin) of Vinton, VA; sister-in-law Lisa Hayes (Scott) of Conway, SC; brother-in-law Nick Olin (Carmen) of Lynchburg, VA; brother-in-law Gabe Malcolm (Kathleen) of Middleton, NJ; sister-in-law Lacey Malcolm of Kearney, NE; father-in-law Brian Olin of Rocky Mount, VA; nephews Josh Nichols, Sean Olofson, Connor Hayes, Anthony Olin; and nieces Meleea Olofson and Katlyn Olin. Noel is also survived by many close friends from all phases of her life that she cherished dearly.
She is preceded in death by her paternal grandparents Delbert Eugene & Virginia Fern Nichols, maternal grandparents Seibert Earl and Thelma Pauline (Holly) Warren Jr., and mother-in-law Ivy J. (Stauffer) Olin.
Services will be held in both Roanoke, VA and Point Pleasant, WV to accommodate those who wish to pay their respects. Both services will be officiated by Reverend Rob Lough from Bonsack United Methodist Church.
A Celebration of Life service will occur on Saturday, October 18, 2025 at 1pm at Bonsack United Methodist Church (4493 Bonsack Rd NE, Roanoke, VA). Visitation will start at 11am preceding the service. Attendees are encouraged to stay for a meal and fellowship immediately following the service. Arrangements are being handled by Rader Funeral Home in Daleville, VA. The service will be streamed on the church’s Facebook page.
A visitation will occur on Friday, October 24, 2025 from 6:00 to 8:00pm at Bellemead United Methodist Church (510 Burdette St, Point Pleasant, WV). A funeral service will occur at the same location on Saturday, October 25, 2025 at 11:30am. A funeral procession and brief graveside service will follow at Pine Grove Cemetery in Leon, WV. Arrangements are being handled by Wilcoxen Funeral Home in Point Pleasant, WV. The service will be streamed on the church’s Facebook page.
A special thank you to the Virginia Breast Cancer Foundation and to the wonderful staff at Blue Ridge Cancer Center and the Lymphatic, Wound Management, Home Health, and Hospice teams at Carilion Clinic, who provided such compassionate care for Noel throughout her battle.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in memory of Noel to the Virginia Breast Cancer Foundation (https://www.vbcf.org).
