Obituary for James R. Holman
James Holman, age 76, of Wooster entered into rest at his residence following a period of declining health. His family was by his side.
The world lost a real character on April 3, 2021. Here’s hoping the afterlife has excellent customer service, or else they are going to hear about it, likely in colorful terms and with a physical demonstration of some sort.
Jim was the youngest child of Ruby and James Holman of Lebanon, TN. He grew up helping his father plant, cut and dry tobacco on the farm and exploring the natural world around him. Growing up poor in the south wasn’t easy, so he liked to escape the world around him by burying himself in books, collecting bugs and anything else that kept him busy. His thirst for knowledge lead him to undergraduate study at Tennessee Tech where he would leave with not only a degree, but his wife of 54 years, Donna.
The two lovebirds headed to Clemson, SC where Jim pursued a PhD in entomology, but was rudely interrupted by being drafted to serve in Vietnam. Jim was unable to deploy in combat due to a hearing impairment, but served his country by completing medical research in San Francisco. Upon being honorably discharged from the U.S. Army, Jim and Donna returned to Clemson to finish the work he had started. It was in Clemson in 1971 that Jim had his first child, Erin Campbell (Holman). Jim never liked to do anything easy. As such, during the blizzard of 1977, he decided to pack up the family and move to Ohio to assume his role as the head of computing and statistical services at OARDC, a position he remained in until his retirement.
Jim was always busy. Over the next several years, Jim would produce another child, his son Brandon. He helped to found Wooster’s Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, and was active with his daughter’s 4-H club, the WHS Marching Band and WHS Speech and Debate Team. It was an evening in 1989, however, where he would discover his second calling, Scouting. Jim never had the opportunity to join Boy Scouts as a child, but seized the opportunity to join with his son. He would see his “one hour per week” of volunteerism turn into countless days, nights, miles and late night Denny’s runs over the next 30 odd years.
After retirement, Jim became busier than ever by throwing himself further into Scouting and leadership training, volunteering to help people with taxes and “projects”. “Projects” usually consisted of lots of planning (or absolutely none), buying supplies (but never enough and/ or not the right ones), starting the work and then getting relatively close to finished, before moving onto the next thing. He was never able to be still, and was tinkering around until the very end.
Jim was preceded in death by his sisters Reba Kay and Janice. He will be dearly missed by his surviving wife Donna, two children Erin and Brandon, their spouses Caleb and Nicole, his sister Irene and his grandchildren Dominic, Hazel and Rupert. His presence will also be missed by the ad revenue folks at MSNBC and Lowe’s.
In lieu of flowers, please consider contributions to Buckeye Council of the Boy Scouts of America, 2301 13th St., NW #3154 Canton, Ohio 44708 particularly earmarked for improvements at Seven Ranges Scout Reservation or campership funds. Contributions can also be made to Ohio's Hospice LifeCare, 1900 Akron Rd., Wooster, Ohio 44691, so that others can receive the loving care he did in his final days.
It was his previous wish that there be no public services or visitation.
A private interment will take place at Foxfield Nature Preserve Cemetery in Wilmot at the convenience of the family.
Custer-Glenn Funeral Home in Wooster is honored with serving the family.
Words of public or private condolences may be shared with the family at: www.custerglenn.com.
The world lost a real character on April 3, 2021. Here’s hoping the afterlife has excellent customer service, or else they are going to hear about it, likely in colorful terms and with a physical demonstration of some sort.
Jim was the youngest child of Ruby and James Holman of Lebanon, TN. He grew up helping his father plant, cut and dry tobacco on the farm and exploring the natural world around him. Growing up poor in the south wasn’t easy, so he liked to escape the world around him by burying himself in books, collecting bugs and anything else that kept him busy. His thirst for knowledge lead him to undergraduate study at Tennessee Tech where he would leave with not only a degree, but his wife of 54 years, Donna.
The two lovebirds headed to Clemson, SC where Jim pursued a PhD in entomology, but was rudely interrupted by being drafted to serve in Vietnam. Jim was unable to deploy in combat due to a hearing impairment, but served his country by completing medical research in San Francisco. Upon being honorably discharged from the U.S. Army, Jim and Donna returned to Clemson to finish the work he had started. It was in Clemson in 1971 that Jim had his first child, Erin Campbell (Holman). Jim never liked to do anything easy. As such, during the blizzard of 1977, he decided to pack up the family and move to Ohio to assume his role as the head of computing and statistical services at OARDC, a position he remained in until his retirement.
Jim was always busy. Over the next several years, Jim would produce another child, his son Brandon. He helped to found Wooster’s Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, and was active with his daughter’s 4-H club, the WHS Marching Band and WHS Speech and Debate Team. It was an evening in 1989, however, where he would discover his second calling, Scouting. Jim never had the opportunity to join Boy Scouts as a child, but seized the opportunity to join with his son. He would see his “one hour per week” of volunteerism turn into countless days, nights, miles and late night Denny’s runs over the next 30 odd years.
After retirement, Jim became busier than ever by throwing himself further into Scouting and leadership training, volunteering to help people with taxes and “projects”. “Projects” usually consisted of lots of planning (or absolutely none), buying supplies (but never enough and/ or not the right ones), starting the work and then getting relatively close to finished, before moving onto the next thing. He was never able to be still, and was tinkering around until the very end.
Jim was preceded in death by his sisters Reba Kay and Janice. He will be dearly missed by his surviving wife Donna, two children Erin and Brandon, their spouses Caleb and Nicole, his sister Irene and his grandchildren Dominic, Hazel and Rupert. His presence will also be missed by the ad revenue folks at MSNBC and Lowe’s.
In lieu of flowers, please consider contributions to Buckeye Council of the Boy Scouts of America, 2301 13th St., NW #3154 Canton, Ohio 44708 particularly earmarked for improvements at Seven Ranges Scout Reservation or campership funds. Contributions can also be made to Ohio's Hospice LifeCare, 1900 Akron Rd., Wooster, Ohio 44691, so that others can receive the loving care he did in his final days.
It was his previous wish that there be no public services or visitation.
A private interment will take place at Foxfield Nature Preserve Cemetery in Wilmot at the convenience of the family.
Custer-Glenn Funeral Home in Wooster is honored with serving the family.
Words of public or private condolences may be shared with the family at: www.custerglenn.com.