Charles Holaday

Charles Richard Holaday, age 85 of Wilmington, passed away Sunday, August 14, 2016 at the Kettering Medical Center.

He was born May 14, 1931 in East Chicago, Indiana, son of the late William Marion and Brenda Johnson Holaday.

Charles attended High School in Pennsylvania at Westtown Schools.  He then received his Bachelor of Science from Wilmington College on June 1, 1953.  And on July 12, 1953 he married, the love of his life, Melvina (Bonnie) Bennett.

After marrying Bonnie, Charles proudly served our country from November 9, 1953 through October 26, 1955.  He served as a Specialist 3rd Class in the Army.

His first love was farming and he helped his father work the farm until his dad retired.  At the same time he worked at St. Elizabeth’s Hospital in Dayton, Ohio until he retired in 1996.

He loved helping his daughters and especially enjoyed working with the Clinton County Freedom Riders 4-H Club.  Charles and his wife designed, built and painted interesting and colorful horse jumps for the Equestrian events at the Clinton County Fair.

He is survived by his sister, Martha Kitterman of Easley, SC, his two daughters and sons-in-law, Helen and Richard Pratt of Mason and Elizabeth and Thomas Mann of Wilmington; and his grandson, his wife and great grandson, Charles, Stephanie and Lucas Pratt of Fairfield.

In addition to his parents Charles was preceded in death by his wife, Bonnie and his brother, William Holaday.

Memorial Services will be held at 6 p.m. Friday, August 19 at Fisher-Edgington Funeral Home, 97 W. Locust St. at North Mulberry Street, Wilmington.  Friends will be received from 5-6 p.m. Friday August 19 before the memorial service.

Contributions may be made to the Clinton County Freedom Riders 4-H Club c/o Nev Brown, 620 Randolph St., Wilmington, OH 45177.