Stanford Walton Holland

Stanford Walton Holland, 95 of Fishertown, passed away on Friday, August 19, 2011.

He was born on March 13, 1916 in St. Clairsville, the son of the late George Walton “Walt” Holland and Nellie Ada (Cunnningham)Holland.

On August 14, 1944, by Reverend R.S. Caldwell,  he was married to Edith Jean (Horn) Holland at the Bedford Presbyterian Church.

Along with his wife, Jean, Stan is survived by daughter Eleanor Curtis of Bedford; son, Robert Holland and daughter-in-law, Grace (Miller) Holland, both of Fishertown; two granddaughters, Pam Benton and Pat Howsare, both of Bedford; a great grandson, Tyler Benton of Bedford; and a brother, G. Fred Holland of Hawaii.  He was preceded in death by an infant son, Stanford Leland Holland, four brothers, “Barney” Milton Holland, Richard “Dick” Holland, Raymond Holland, Edward “Ted” Holland and a sister, Helen Graybill.

Stan was a graduate of East St. Clair High School where was noted then and in later years for his creative writing skills, especially in poetry, verse and short stories.  He received perfect attendance awards from the Department of Public Instruction in Harrisburg for “neither being absent or tardy”.

Stan was an accomplished musician who enjoyed playing his mandolin, the piano and any other instrument with strings or keys.  He was never taught to read music, but could play any song he ever heard.  Stan was a member of the Pleasantville Briar Hoppers, a country/bluegrass group and performed live on the first radio show broadcast in Bedford County.  He also performed in various impromptu vaudeville events throughout the area.

Known as “Baldy” or “Boldy” to his family and friends because of his beautiful thick white hair. Even as young as 18, Stan had white hair as noted in his honorable discharge papers from the Civilian Conservation Corps in Camp Holabird, MD in 1934.  He worked as a laborer and truck driver at that time.

Stan earned his living practicing his skills as a master mechanic.  He built his first car, a running vehicle, from salvaged scraps when he was a young boy.  He was the Greyhound Bus mechanic at the Coffee Pot in Bedford and maintained the buses hauling soldiers to battlefronts during W.W.II.  Stan was also the proprietor of Holland Garage in Fishertown.

In subsequent years, he worked for E.G. Studebaker, for Spector Trucking and was a member of the local Teamster’s Union.  Throughout his life, Stan shared his love of mechanics.  He taught his granddaughters and other home school students mechanical skills, including how to rebuild an engine and do basic car maintenance.

Stan was a member of the Bedford Presbyterian Church.  He was a stockholder with Bedford Bow and Gun Club.  He will be greatly missed by his wife, family and friends.

A funeral service will be held at Mickle-Geisel Funeral Home in Schellsburg at 11:00 AM on Tuesday, August 23, 2011 with Rev. Doug Friant officiating.

Interment will be held at Schellsburg Cemetery.

Friends are invited to call on Monday from 7:00 – 9:00 PM at the funeral home.

Online condolences maybe expressed at www.geiselfuneral.com.

---