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Walter Holy Obituary


WALTER HOLY
January 9, 1928 ~ July 1, 2018

Walter Holy, 90, of Orchards, WA, has gone on to the home prepared for him in Heaven, after a long battle with cancer. He was born in Ross, N. Dakota, the youngest of five children of Joseph Holy and Stella Bures.
Walter is survived by his beloved wife, Frances; daughters, Dianna and Linda (Bob Durston) and grandson, Justin (Kristy) of Portland, OR; daughter, Sharon Maddax and extended family of Puyallup, WA; sisters, Florence Thompson of Portland and Francine Smith (Joe) of Lake Oswego; as well as numerous nieces and nephews.
When Walter was young, his family moved to Oregon City, OR. Walter joined the Army in April of 1944 at the age of 16 and began his military career as a paratrooper with the 101st Airborne. He spent the next two years in Germany and France, reenlisted in 1946, and spent most of that time in Italy as a military policeman. After a total of 4 years and 7 months of service, he became a civilian and turned 21 three weeks later. He then went to work at Crown Zellerbach in Oregon City, got married and had two daughters.
In 1956, he joined the Air Force and enjoyed many years as an aircraft maintenance and jet engine technician instructor, later becoming a propulsion branch and aircraft maintenance superintendent, with duties across Europe, Taiwan and Vietnam. After a total of 32-1/2 years (including his earlier service), during which he received numerous awards and medals, Chief Master Sergeant Holy finally retired.
He loved to travel and he and Frances took long road trips as often as possible, and for many years drove across the country to attend the annual meeting of the Veterans of Underage Military Service (VUMS) organization of which he was a proud member. At 88, he was still riding his bicycle to Goodwill to look for something interesting. He was always busy fixing things, at home and for friends and family. He was tireless and always cheerful and optimistic.
On June 30th he and Frances celebrated their 68th wedding anniversary.
~ Walter will be missed by many. ~
Services will be held on July 17th, 10:30 a.m., at Vancouver Funeral Chapel, followed by interment at Willamette National Cemetery.
Please sign his Guest Book at www.columbian.com/obits.

Published by The Columbian on Jul. 11, 2018.
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4 Entries

Tony Welch

July 21, 2018

this link is to an interview in 2012 with Walter for the Oregonian's Oregon at War series. http://s.oregonlive.com/wIqPLaR

Kathryn Edgecomb

July 17, 2018

Walter always had a twinkle in his eye and an attitude that just made the world a better place. Thank you Walter. http://blog.oregonlive.com/oregonatwar/2012/03/in_my_own_case_i_took_pretty_m.html

Kathryn Edgecomb

July 17, 2018

I interviewed Walter in November 2015 for the book I wrote called The Papermakers: More Than Runn of the Mill. He shared great stories about his experiences working at the Crown Zellerbach paper milll in West Linn, Oregon. My book includes his photograph and a short biographical sketch about his life and work at the paper mill. Let me know if it would be appropriate to read what I wrote about him at a memorial service.

Robert Bresky

July 11, 2018

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