Stanley T. Holland Jr.
EDENTON, N.C.—Stanley Thomas “Tom” Holland Jr., 85, died peacefully April 15, 2010, at his home on Soundshore Drive.
Mr. Holland was born May 2, 1924, in Winston-Salem, N.C. and was the son of the late Stanley T. Sr. and Thelma Giles Holland.
He spent his early years in Franklin, where he attended Franklin High School, became an Eagle Scout, excelled in all sports, and then graduated from Fort Union Military Academy where he was All State in football.
An Army Air Corps veteran of World War II, he was a 1948 graduate of The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. While at Chapel Hill, he met and courted Almira “Boots” Edwards. They were married 62 years ago in Duke Chapel and together raised six daughters.
In 1957, they returned to Chapel Hill where they lived until retiring to Edenton in 1987.
An award winning sales representative and consultant in the textile industry, his community involvement included serving as chairman of the Board of Elections in Orange County, N.C.; service on the Board of Directors of the Salvation Army, a member and Past President of the Edenton Lions Club and a member of Edenton Baptist Church.
Tom was an avid sailor and golfer, a diehard Carolina fan, and a 50-year member of the UNC Rams Club.
He took his family, including his in-laws, camping across the United States and Canada.
Everywhere he went he enjoyed meeting people, never seeing a stranger, and sharing life stories. He always told a good story and freely offered a helping hand to others.
He will be greatly missed by his family and friends.
In addition to his parents he was preceded in death by his daughter, Ann Hobbs.
Left to cherish his memory are his loving wife, “Boots” Holland; daughters, Gill Holland and friend Elaine Hardin of Travelers Rest, S.C., Sande Novick and husband Chip of Denver, Colo., Nancy Holland of Chicago, Il., Nell Randall and husband Mike of Fort Myers, Fla., Ginny Roll and husband Leif of Bloomington, Ill.; son-in-law, Bill Hobbs of Tallahassee, Fla.; 10 grandchildren, Andrew Hobbs, Alex Ledgerwood, Pete, Carl, and Cassie Novick, Joel and Giles Stolarick, Jensen, Giles, and Georgi Roll; three great-grandchildren, James Stolarick and William and Gabriel Ledgerwood; two sisters, Nancy Holland Tucker and Louise Holland Coward, both of Richmond; and several nieces, nephews and extended family members.
A memorial service celebrating Tom’s life will be held Thursday, April 22, at 11 a.m. in Edenton Baptist Church by the Rev. David Brooks. Miller Funeral Home & Crematory, 735 Virginia Road, Edenton, is assisting the family with arrangements.
In lieu flowers contributions in his memory may be made to either Edenton Baptist Church, 200 S. Granville St., Edenton, NC 27932 or to Albemarle Hospice, P.O. Box 189, Elizabeth City, NC 27909.
Online condolences may be made by visiting www.millerfhc.com.