Gunnery Sergeant Kent Franklin Nickerson United States Marine Corps (Ret.) 82 died Monday July 10 2006 at Lexington Medical Center following a brief illness.Sgt. Nickerson was born on April 5 1924 in Philadelphia Pennsylvania a son of the late Earl Franklin and Roseina Nickerson. He left his familys farm at age 17 to enlist in the Marine Corps following the attack on Pearl Harbor. He fought in the South Pacific in the Marshall Islands at Johnston and Kwajelain and locations undisclosed. He served again in Korea and in Vietnam.A dedicated saltwater fisherman he loved boats and life on the water. Sgt. Nickerson retired from the Marines to Tidewater Virginia where he spent winters in Wide Water on the Potomac and summered aboard his sportfisherman Gunny V in Colonial Beach. Throughout life he was a keeper of tropical fish and ardent model railroader. Few men loved dogs more or treated them better.Sgt. Nickerson is survived by his wife Dorothy Jeanne Winner Nickerson; two sons and daughters-in-law John and Brenda Nickerson of Youngs Island and Kent and Janice Nickerson of Columbia; a sister Roxane Ewan; a brother Earl Nickerson; a granddaughter Allison Nickerson Romaine; a grandson Joshua Nickerson; a great-granddaughter Sara McTeer Romaine and a great-grandson Tyler Gray.He was predeceased by a brother James Nickerson.The family expresses sincere thanks to the staff at Lexington Medical center for the care they provided and to Palmetto Health Hospice. What wonderful people they are.Memorials may be made to a charity of ones choice.Funeral services were held in Arlington National Cemetery Virginia.Messages to the family may be sent via email at notes@whitakerfuneralhome.com.Whitaker Funeral Home Newberry is assisting the family.