William McKinley Holloway, Sr., 88, of Covington VA, went to be with his Heavenly Father on Saturday, December 11, 2010.
He was born September 12, 1922, in Alleghany County, a son of the late Don Holloway and Martha Ann Spinner Holloway.
In the winter of 1931, William was baptized and became a member of Pine Street Baptist Church. William also taught Sunday school for many years and sung in the Men's Chorus. As a child, William and his brothers used to sing in quartets where they often won awards. He continued to sing all of his life, including with the Gospel Four Quartet.
William joined the Army during the World War II on February 24, 1942, where he became a Staff Sergeant. He fought in the Rhineland and Central Europe campaigns, and was awarded American Theater Campaign medal, Eamet Campaign Medal with 2 Bronze Service Stars, Asiatic-Pacific Theater Campaign medal, Good Conduct and Victory Medal. One of his lifelong passions was singing, which he did often as MC of USO shows around the world during the war. One of his other passions was baseball, where he played in the Negro Baseball Leagues with Satchel Page and Hank Aaron. Upon his return from the war, he continued working at Westvaco for 52 ¨ö years.
With his family, he worked at Christ United Methodist Church for 59 years as custodian.
Mr. Holloway had dedicated his life and served his church as a deacon for forty-eight years beginning on October 17, 1962, a Sunday school teacher, and any other capacity that he could. Then he served his community as a member of the Salvation Army and Welfare board, but most of all, he was an avid family man.
Those left to cherish his memory are his loving wife of 64 years, Helen Carter Holloway; his son and daughter, Bishop William McKinley Holloway, Jr. and wife, Elaine, Joihelene Holloway, his sister, Yvonne Holloway Laws of Anchorage, AK; his two grandchildren, David Eugene Holloway and Lorie Elaine Holloway Nash; his six great-grandchildren, Morgan, Donovan, Jaxon, Caleb, Kylan, and Raven; countless nephews, nieces, cousins and a lifetime of friends.
In addition to his parents, William was preceded in death by his sisters, Mary Goodall, Josephene Barber, Evelyn Arnold, Hattie Richardson, Barbara Green, Jean Godfrey; and brothers, Donald, Ralph, John, Clarence Holloway.
A funeral service was conducted at 1:00 P.M. Friday, December 17, 2010, at Christ United Methodist Church with Rev. Mike Snider officiating, the eulogy by Bishop William M. Holloway, Jr. and assisted by Rev. Dr. Thomas S. Simmons, Rev. M.T. Barnette, Rev. William O. Hickman, III, Rev. Bill Gilliland and Rev. Willie Cannon.
Active pallbearers were David Holloway, Larry Hambric, Roy Carter, Harry Helton, Timothy Yancey, and Daniel Tyson, Sr.
Honorary Pallbearers were Harry Stinespring, Bob McCallister, Bobby Rucker, Cleveland Tyson and Ralph Burks.
Graveside rites will be conducted by Curtis A. Smith Post 1033.
The family received friends on Thursday evening at Loving Funeral Home and at other times at the residence, 505 Mercer Street, Covington.
The family suggests that donations take the form of contributions to the Salvation Army P. O. Box 877 Covington, Va. 24426.
Those wishing to send condolences online, please visit www.lovingfuneralhome1913.com.
