Robert Holman

Robert C. Holman, 89, Mifflinburg

Robert "Bob" Charles Holman, 89, of 1165 Grand Valley Rd., since 1959, entered into rest at 5:16 a.m., Friday, May 20, 2011, at his home.

Bob Holman was an extraordinary man. His engaging personality, long life, and enthusiastic interest/ working knowledge of almost any subject allowed him to touch the lives of many, many people.

He was born November 2, 1921, in Mifflinburg, and grew up in Trevorton, the only child of the late Charles L. and Viola (Raker) Holman. His youth was spent roaming the hills and valleys of Northumberland County, where he learned to love nature and became a skilled fisherman and hunter. As a boy, Bob once shared a sandwich along a trout stream with then Governor, Gifford Pinchot. He was involved in Boy Scouts as a youth, earning the rank of Eagle Scout and was awarded the Silver Beaver. Bob was a 1940 graduate of Trevorton High School.

Bob enlisted in the Army and served in the U. S. Horse Calvery during World War II, from July 16, 1940 until his honorable discharge December 10, 1944.

He attended Bucknell University on the G. I. Bill and was a 1948 graduate of Bucknell University. He continued his education with graduate classes in Ornithology at Colorado State and Cornell University.

On June 14, 1947, in the Turbotville Lutheran Church, he married the former Ruth C. Crispen, who survives.

Mr. Holman (as some former students still call him out of respect) was employed as a Biology teacher at Westmont Hilltop High School, Johnstown, from 1948 to 1954, and at Mifflinburg High School from 1954 to 1975. He was a pioneer in the "Conservation Movement" (before it became fashionable to do so), teaching hands-on conservation practices from the outdoor laboratory that he and his students developed in the courtyard at Mifflinburg High School in 1958, and later at the wildlife refuge/ arboretum that he developed on his own property in rural Mifflinburg. In 1967, he received the Outstanding Conservation Educator of the year award for Pennsylvania from the Pa. Assoc. of Soil & Water Conservation Directors, and the Wildlife Conservation Award in 1987 by the Union County Conservation District.

From 1975 until his retirement in 1982, he served as the Audio-Visual Administrator at Mifflinburg High School. After retiring, he served as a School Board Director for the Mifflinburg Area School District from 1982 to 1986, and was Board President from 1984 to 1986.

During his tenure at Mifflinburg, he moon-lighted as a State Bee Inspector (during the summers) from 1968-1973; taught night classes to prison inmates at the U. S. Federal Penitentiary, Lewisburg from 1955 to1969, was a Justice of the Peace from 1951 to 1971; was a Deputy Game Protector from 1958 to 1988; had a Christmas tree farm from 1960 to 1968; raised tomatoes commercially for Chef Boyardee from 1960 to 1962. He was also a Counselor at Camp Pocono during the summers from 1948 to 1954.

He was a member of the Mifflinburg United Methodist Church, since 1954. In 1969, Bob was the Lay Leader for the Church's congregation, and used his gift of public speaking to preach several Sundays that year. For many years he was a Church School teacher of the Adult Sunday School Class and substituted at almost every age level.

In 1951, Bob was instrumental in establishing (or reviving) an active Boy Scout Troop in Mifflinburg, and served as its Scoutmaster from 1951 to 1956. He was a Charter member (card no. 2) of the Buffalo Valley Sportsmen's Assoc., Mifflinburg, (serving as a Legislative Liaison for the Federated Sportsmen's Club from 1983 to 1985); an honorary member of the Union County Sportsmen's Club, Weikert, and a 60 year member of the Free & Accepted Masons Lodge # 370, Mifflinburg. He also served as Secretary for the Union County Soil and Water Conservation District for 12 years, and Chairman of the Union County Higher Education Facilities Financing Authority from 1982 to 2009.

He had a multitude of hobbies and interests. From mid-life and earlier he was an enthusiastic sportsman who loved both hunting and fishing. All his life, Bob was passionate about observing and studying wild birds, and was an accomplished bird artist . . . having illustrated two published books on the birds of Union County and a book about backyard wildlife. He loved to do woodworking projects (turning bowls and making various types of furniture) for his family and friends. He was a gunsmith in his earlier years, and all his life did his own reloading. Bob built his own Pennsylvania long rifle (flintlock muzzleloader) in 1973. He also enjoyed propagating pheasants, waterfowl and cage birds at his wildlife sanctuary in Mifflinburg. He loved traveling with his wife, Ruth, and their friends to all parts of the U. S. and abroad, including Australia, the Amazon River in South America, Canada and most of the western states in the U.S. He made beautiful jewelry and loved all types of plants and plant propagation. As the "consummate extrovert" that he was, he thoroughly enjoyed people. In his last years, his morning sessions with his coffee group "The ROMEO Club", spending time with his grandson (Sam), taking day trips with close friends and eating at the OIP Restaurant were truly the highlights of his days.

His legacy within the community will be the infectious enthusiasm that he had for life and its many wonders that he used to inspire/ encourage his students (or anyone he interacted with) to pursue their interests. To his family and close friends, he will be remembered as a loving/ caring provider who put his family and close friends above all else. His influence on his sons' lives was instrumental in guiding their career paths and who they have become. He never missed an event or an opportunity to provide support. Right up to the end, Bob Holman was most interested in taking care of his family and spending time with friends and family

Surviving in addition to his wife of nearly 64 years, are two sons and daughters-in-law, Mark E. and Debra J. Holman, and David C. and Michele R. Holman, all of Mifflinburg; and one grandson, Samuel M. Holman of Mifflinburg.

Family and friends are welcome from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., Monday, at the Roupp Funeral Home, Inc., 8594 Old Turnpike Rd., Mifflinburg, where a masonic service will be conducted at 7:00 p.m. The funeral service will be conducted at 11 a.m., Tuesday, at the Mifflinburg United Methodist Church, 279 Market St., with Rev. Ronald Warfle and Rev. John Vought, officiating.

Burial will be in the Mifflinburg Cemetery, with military honors by the Mifflinburg American Legion Post 410.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Evangelical Hospice, 1 Hospital Dr., Lewisburg, PA 17837.

Visitation Details

Monday, May 23rd, 2011, 6:00pm - 9:00pm, Roupp Funeral Home, Inc.

Service Details

Tuesday, May 24th, 2011, 11:00am, Mifflinburg United Methodist Church

Interment Details

Mifflinburg Cemetery

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