Craig Hall Holtslander, 76

October 10, 2016

Craig Hall Holtslander, 76, died October 10, 2016 at Luther Acres Retirement Home, Lititz, PA, surrounded by loved ones. He was born May 23, 1940 in Flint, Michigan, to Gladys Lynn (Hall) Holtslander Davis and Alvrous Fuller Holtslander. On July 4, 1964 he married Rita Jay Loomis in East Lansing, MI. She preceded him in death, on June 19, 2016. They were within weeks of celebrating their 52nd wedding anniversary.
In addition to his wife, Craig was preceded in death by his parents. He is survived by his two children Margaret Katherine Phillips (Dr. Jason) of Lititz, PA and CAPT Craig Alan Holtslander, U.S. Navy (Megan) of Fairfax, VA, and his three grandchildren Thomas Alan Holtslander, Alana Kathleen Phillips and Meryn Evans Holtslander, along with his sister Pam Belford of Rockledge, Florida, brother Brett Holtslander of Linden, MI, sister-in-law Leslie Holtslander of Swartz Creek, MI, cousin Julianne Haas Eisele (Don) of West Chester, PA, and many cousins, nieces and nephews.
Craig graduated in 1958 from Flint Central High School in Flint, Michigan and in 1964 earned his Engineering Degree from Michigan State University. He started his career in California as an engineer at Rockwell International working on the Apollo Space Program. Subsequently, he moved his family and career east to Ohio where he served in key engineering positions in Springfield and Sidney, Ohio, ultimately rising to the position of Vice President of Engineering at Shelby Manufacturing. Craig was a frequent blood donor and lifelong volunteer. A devout Catholic, he served as a Eucharistic Minister and in the church choir. He worked in many officiating capacities at USA Swimming meets and was the Ohio Swimming Registration Chair for USA Swimming for 18 years. He was a Life Member of the Loyal Order of Moose, serving as the Sidney Lodge Secretary for over 10 years and honored with the Pilgrim Degree, the Order’s highest award of distinction. In his later years, he served as both the President and Store Manager of the St. John’s Herr Estate Residents’ Association. Craig was also an early adopter of computer technology which ultimately resulted in a deep interest in online genealogy.
A Mass of Christian Burial for both Craig and his wife Rita will be held at St. John Neumann Catholic Church, 601 E. Delp Rd., Lancaster, PA, on November 19th, 2016 at 10:00 AM, with interment immediately to follow at St. Joseph’s New Roman Catholic Cemetery. Reverend Dan Powell, Pastor, and Reverend Ray Collins, C.SS.R., will serve as Celebrants. The family will receive friends prior to the Mass beginning at 9:00 AM. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorials be made in Craig’s and Rita’s names to: St. John’s Herr Estate, 200 Luther Lane, Columbia, PA 17512; Luther Acres Healthcare Center, 400 St. Luke Drive, Lititz, PA 17543; and/or Hospice and Community Care, 685 Good Dr., Lancaster, PA 17601.
The family would like to thank the staffs at Hospice and Community Care, Luther Acres, and St John’s Herr Estate for their loving care of Craig.