Mr. David Colon Nifong, 90, of Lexington, NC passed away peacefully on Wednesday, July 26, 2023, at the Hinkle Hospice House of Davidson County. Colon was affectionately known as “Chief” to his close family and “Coach” to so many of his football players over the years.

He was born in Davidson County on December 12, 1932, to Clete Nifong and Alliene Hilton Nifong. Colon graduated from Oak Hill High School in Morganton, NC, and attended Appalachian State University from 1951-1956, graduating with a BS and Masters degrees in mathematics and education.  He was a walk-on to the Appalachian State football team and achieved all-conference honors his senior year.  It was at Appalachian State where he met and wed the love of his life, Marjorie Mast.

Colon retired from the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools as a coach and math teacher for 30 years.  In his career at North Forsyth High School, Coach Nifong led the Vikings football team to the 1971 State 4-A football championship.  He coached the East-West All-Star game in 1973.  The football stadium at North Forsyth is named in his honor.  He was also the Athletic Director at North Forsyth for 23 years and served two terms on the N.C. State Board of Athletic Directors.  Coach Nifong was inducted into the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County High School Sports Hall of Fame in 2012.

Colon loved farming and hunting.  He and his family retired to Double N Farm in Lexington and there he spent his life raising cattle and enjoying farm life.  He served as President and Treasurer of the Davidson County Cattle Association and served on the board of directors of the N.C. Hereford Association for 6 years.  He raised many top-ranked high-priced cattle at the N.C. State Hereford sale. His other passion in life was hunting big and small game.  Colon hunted from Argentina all the way to the Yukon Territory and all points in between.

Most of all for Colon, family was his greatest joy.  He is survived by his wife of 68 years, Marjorie Mast Nifong; sister Nell Jane Schopp (Aubrey William) (Bill Schopp) and brother Larry Hilton Nifong (Betty).  His sister, Dorothy Mae Dickins (Al) predeceased Colon.  He is also survived by his daughter , Deborah N. Patterson (Fred) and Jeffrey D. Nifong (Joanna); four grandchildren, Christina Woods (Brian), Rebecca Cecil (Ryan), Amber Nifong, and Joshua Nifong.  Colon has three great-grandchildren, Emma Woods, William Cecil, and Anna Cecil.

The family would like to thank all of his caregivers for their service over the past months.  A celebration of life will be conducted at 3 pm Sunday, July 30, 2023, at Midway Church, 9795 Old U.S. Highway 52, Lexington, NC.  The family will receive friends before the service at 2 pm.

https://www.davidsonfuneralhome.net/obituary/david-nifong