Holy, Russell A. – 1898-1967

BUCKINGHAM, COLBY, ENGLISH, HOLY, MERRILL, TAYLOR, TRADER

Posted By: Diana Wagner
Date: 11/3/2021 at 10:11:50

Rites Are Held Tuesday For Dr. Russell Holy
Funeral services for Dr. Russell A. Holy were held at the Prairie City Methodist Church Tuesday afternoon, April 18th. Dr. Holy died April 14 at Findlay, Ohio following a stroke he suffered on March 15th.
The Rev. James Sheckler was the clergyman in charge and Mrs. Dennis Groe was organist. Mr. and Mrs. Marion Van Zee sang the duets “Whispering Hope” and “Beautiful Isle of Somewhere”.
Serving as casket bearers were Floyd Birkenholtz, Garfield Conard, Oscar Conard, Ross Gulling, Lewis Miller and Melvin Wicker.
Honorary bearers were Paul Cole, Emery Erskin, Willie Erskin, Russell Hayes, Harlan McCoy, Jim Mott, Russell Perryman and Orr Smith.
Mrs. Paul Cole and Mrs. George Waddle were in charge of the floral tributes.
Masonic graveside rites were held by the Preston Lodge No. 218 of Prairie City. Interment was at the Vandalia Cemetery.
Life Story
Russell A. Holy, son of John and Mary Holy was born near Vandalia, Iowa, on January 15, 1898. He passed away peacefully at the Blanchard Valley Hospital in Findlay, Ohio, on April 14, 1967. On January 5th while driving his car in Findlay he had a stroke from which he seemed to make rapid and substantial recovery. However, on march 15th, he suffered a second and more severe stroke which resulted in his death.
Dr. Holy’s early life was spent in Iowa where he received his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Education. In 1935, he was awarded the PH. D. degree by Teacher’s College, Columbia University. Many years of his life were spent first as a teacher and later as a school superintendent. Iowa communities thus served were Sully, Springdale, Springville and West Union. Later he served as school superintendent for six years in Casa Grande, Arizona. Following that he served on the faculty of the University of Kansas City, Nebraska State Teacher’s College at Peru, Nebraska, University of Nebraska and the University of North Dakota. He was principal of the Lincoln Elementary School in Bryan, Ohio in 1958-59 and in September, 1958, he was appointed professor of Education at Findlay College, a position he held until his death.
In 1922, he married Edna Merrill who preceded him in death. One daughter was born to that union, Mary Alice, who lives with her husband George Colby and son, Steven Russell in Charleston, Illinois. He married Edna Taylor who survives him, in 1953. In addition to these he is survived by two sisters and one brother, Mrs. Nellie Trader, Mrs. Hazelle English and T. C. Holy, all of Prairie City; a niece, Vesta Buckingham of Denver, Colorado, and a host of other relatives mostly in Iowa, and many friends in the communities where he has served.
Several years ago he united with the Friends Church while living in Chicago. Although that denomination was not represented in several of the communities where he lived he continued to support its program and in particular the Friends’ Service Committee. Also he was active in the Young Men’s Christian Association in Findlay.
He was a member of the Ohio Educational Association, the American Red Cross, the American Legion, the Masonic Lodge, the Findlay College Booster Club, and the national education fraternity of Phi Delta Kappa. Also he was in the 1966 “Who’s Who in Ohio.”
One of the greatest joys of his life was helping those who needed it. He enjoyed in particular his contacts with his students both within the classroom and outside. Because of that life-long interest in students, there has been established the Russell A. Holy Scholarship Fund at Findlay College. Contributions to this fund may be sent either to the business manager of the College or to T. C. Holy here in Prairie City.
Source: Prairie City (IA) News; April 20, 1967