Bruce Allen Holter

BRUCE HOLTER

Bruce Allen Holter, 93, passed away peacefully Dec. 8, 2021 at Holzer Medical Center in Gallipolis, Ohio. He was born on Oct. 2, 1928 in Lock Haven, Pa., to Edgar A. and Velma Shawley Holter.

Bruce joined the Army Air Corps right out of High School and later was in the U.S. Air Force.

He graduated from Indiana Tech Institute in 1968 with a degree in Math and Electrical and Electronic Engineering. He moved to Columbus shortly after and started working at Columbia Gas of Ohio as in Engineer until in retired in 1989.

He raised his daughter Kelle by himself and all of her friends loved him and always called him Mr. Bruce.

Since growing up in Lock Haven he had a love of aviation at an early age. He worked at Piper for a few years and with his GI Bill he learned to fly at Lock Haven, too. He later became a Flight Instructor and logged over 22,000 hours in the air. He was a Flight Instructor at OSU, Bolton Field, Pickaway, Ross County and Fairfield County. He loved teaching his students and flying all the time. He had a dog Sugar that flew with him for over 2,000 hours. I’m sure she was there to greet him in Heaven.

His love of flying led him to his wife Melissa Burchett Holter. They were married on Dec. 31, 2003 and lived many happy years together in several different places Lancaster Ohio, Norwalk, Conn., and Las Vegas, Nevada before recently moving back to Ohio.

In addition to his parents he was preceded in death by two sisters, Edrie “Moey” Johnsen and Elaine Dickey. Also a brother Gerald “Peg” Holter. He was also preceded in death by an infant Son Edgar Willard Holter.

In addition to his wife Melissa of Thurman, Ohio, he is survived by daughter Kelle Holomalia of Newport, N.C. and Stevie Miller of Beaufort, N.C. Grandchildren Brianna Allen “Quincy” of Las Vegas, Nevada, and Jordan “Julie” Holomalia of Park City, Kansas. Great grandchildren Roman Allen of Las Vegas and Evelyn Holomalia of Park City, Kansas. He loved his family so much and was so proud of both of his grandchildren and especially his grandson for following in his footsteps and joining the U.S. Air Force. He was affectionately known as Papa to his great grandchildren.

He was also survived by his beloved pets Elvis, Koko, Princess, Priscilla and P.J., Matt and Miss Kitty.

He is also survived by his brother in law Jim Dickey of Beech Creek, Pa., and several nieces and nephews and many friends. He is also survived by inlaws Jarrel and Brenda Burchett of Oak Hill, Ohio and brother-in-law Kevin “Misty” Burchett of Oak Hill and Niece Alyssa Burchett and nephew Koltin Burchett.

A celebration of life will be held at 1 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 14 at Schmidt’s in German Village 240 E. Kossuth St., Columbus, Ohio. All are welcome but we ask you RSVP to mholter1@icloud.com.

In lieu of flowers, we ask you donate to Bruce’s favorite pet rescue where two of his puppies came from. The Road Home Animal Project in Ohio (https://www.paypal.com/us/fundraiser/charity/146679)