Edwin William Holt Sr.

Edwin William Holt, Sr., 98, of Newport departed this life January 5, 2016. He was born February 8, 1917 in Newport, Arkansas to Benjamin W. Holt and Faye Smith Holt on Holden Avenue. Mr. Holt was an active member of Holden Avenue Church of Christ and taught the Adult class for years. Faye Smith's father; Will Smith was one of the first men to help start what is now Holden Avenue Church of Christ. At 5 years old, he went to Harding College Academy at Morrilton, Arkansas. Mrs. Faye Holt was attending college and had her three children attending the Academy. They moved back to Newport and Ed attended Newport School in 2nd grade, then moved to Cordell, Oklahoma for 3rd grade and Mrs. Faye taught 3rd grade and went to school at Oklahoma Christian College, they moved back to Newport and he attended East Newport School for 4th, 5th, and 6th grades. He attended 7th grade at Annie Camp in Jonesboro while Mrs. Faye went to college. He attended 8th grade school in Wynne, 9th grade was in Conway while Mrs. Faye got her B.A. and teaching certificate from Arkansas State Teachers College. In 10th grade, Mr. Ed attended school in Hanniball, Missouri. They moved back to Newport for 11th and 12th grades. He graduated in 1934 from Newport High School. It was in July 1934 Edwin started working for Will Hurley for $6.00 per week and worked there for 23 years. In 1957 he started his own business, Ed's Market on Beech Street and was there until 1989. Ed volunteered for service in the U.S. Navy in 1945. He was a radar operator for one year. They were in the Pacific Ocean and when war was over in Europe they traveled to the Atlantic to bring the servicemen home from France. Ed went back to work for Hurley's when he returned. Ed was a sportsman. He loved fishing, hunting, playing golf, and working. Mr. Morris Wilson was his best hunting and fishing buddy. In 1955 he won the Championship of Golf Tournament at Newport Country Club. During 1964-1967 he was on Newport City Board of Directors, he served as President of Jackson County Retarded School for six years, while Mrs. Alma Black was the Manager. Ed often said "I am the luckiest man on earth" because a man loved by a beautiful and virtuous woman, carries with him a ladies' man that renders him invulnerable; everyone feels that such a one's life has a higher value than that of others- and I have had two such women-Irma and Neva. They have made me the man I am! Edwin married Irma Cathryn Burton on February 8, 1939. They were parents to Irma Josephine and Edwin W. Holt, Jr. (Bill). He has six grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren. Mrs. Irma died in 2005. On February 15, 2007, Edwin married Neva Jean Gray Nicholson. She has two adopted daughters; Jeanetta (Nicholson) Thrasher and Tomalee (Nicholson) Pierce, three grandchildren; Wesley Thrasher, Tomalee Pierce, and Amber Rooks, one great granddaughter; Brooklyn Coredo, and one grand dog; Wendy. Funeral service will be 10 a.m. Saturday, January 9, 2016 at Holden Avenue Church of Christ. Interment will be in Walnut Grove Cemetery. Visitation will be 5:30-7 p.m. Friday, January 8, 2016. Arrangements by Dillinger Funeral Home. www.dillingerfuneralhome.com.