Walter Otho Holcomb Jr.

WALTER OTHO HOLCOMB JR., 79 of Little Rock, passed away at Baptist Hospital on Feb. 20, 2014 due to complications from a stroke suffered three years prior. Walter was born on Jan. 17, 1935 in Little Rock, Ark. to Walter Otho Holcomb Sr. and Gertrude Vogler. He spent his youth in North Little Rock, graduating Catholic High School of Little Rock College in 1953. After working briefly for the railroad, Walter went on to the University of Oklahoma. Earning a Bachelor's degree in engineering physics in 1957 began a lifelong career as an accomplished engineer. Projects he worked on included the F/A 18 Hornet weaponry system and the Motorola Iridium satellite phone. His career took him from Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey, Florida, California, and Arizona before returning home to Arkansas in 2010. Walter was an avid University of Oklahoma and Dallas Cowboys football fan. His love for nature was enjoyed through his long daily hikes in the woods and mountains, especially in the Arizona desert ranges. He had a passion for math, philosophy and poetry. Even long after retirement he was known for notebooks full of equations, side projects, and prose. Walter is survived by his former wife of 40 years, Carole (Proppe) Holcomb (Livonia, N.Y.); his four children, son, Lance & Beth Holcomb (Ojai, Calif.), son, Blaine Holcomb (Philadelphia, Pa.), son, Kip Holcomb (Los Angeles, Calif.), and daughter, Misty & David Cabrera (Lima, N.Y.); his beloved grandson, Travis Cabrera; loving sister, Jane Massery (Jessieville , Ark.); and numerous nieces and nephews throughout Arkansas and New York. A memorial service and celebration of Walter's life will be held this summer in Little Rock. Per Walter's wishes he was cremated by North Little Rock Funeral Home and no formal services or internment were requested. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Walter's memory to the American Stroke Association (www.strokeassociation.org). For more information contact Lance Holcomb at lwhojai@sbcglobal.net.