Patricia Ann Holter, 86

Patricia Ann Thompson Holter, 86, passed at home on January 8, 2018. Born April 9, 1931, she was the youngest child of George Clyde Thompson and Amelia Ruth Frederick Thompson. She is preceded in death by her sister Mary Fulton and her brothers, Frederick, Joseph, Robert, and Emmett Thompson.

Pat graduated Cheshire High School in 1949. She married Roy L. Holter on Christmas Day 1949. Together, they were parents of Ann, Roy Lee (died at birth), Alan, Janice, and Edward.

Pat and Roy ran their family dairy farm of registered Holsteins at Five Points Area of Meigs Co. They joined a Western Square Dance club in 1952 and enjoyed dancing as members of the Belles and Beaus Dance Club. They traveled extensively throughout all 50 of the United States and enjoyed several cruises on the Mississippi Queen. They also made travels through Europe and the Scandinavian countries and enjoyed an ocean cruise on the Legion of Sea touring Central America countries. They particularly loved their vacation to Australia and New Zealand. They traveled with other farm couples from the U.S. and made many friends.

Pat sang in the local community choir and Trinity Congregational Choir. She was a member of the church and a Sunday school teacher for many years. She served as chairman of Meigs Farm Bureau Women’s Committee, 4-H advisor for 20 years, advisor for Jr. Leaders and Jr. Fair Board, and on State Extension Board for two terms.

Pat was active in two garden clubs in the county, Chester (joined in 1952) and the Shade Valley Council, serving as County Contact Chairman two terms and as Regional Director attending and competing in many state competitions (O.A.G.C. and Garden Clubs of Ohio). She also gave flower-arranging demonstrations in Ohio and West Virginia. Pat was renowned for her talent of growing beautiful roses. She won many awards for this talent of growing and arranging flowers, especially her roses, and was admired for always encouraging and helping newcomers to learn this art.

Pat joined the Return Jonathan Meigs chapter of Daughters of the American Revolution and served as Regent two terms. For a project of the DAR in 1995, she started the restoration of the Chester Courthouse, the oldest standing courthouse in Ohio and Northwest Territory. She spent countless hours of volunteering with this project, planning and executing fundraising efforts, helping with matching grants, and forming the Chester Shade Historical Society—in her words, “to promote continued interest in educating younger people about their heritage.”

Pat loved to horseback ride and enjoyed the outdoors, but she had a particular passion for reading whenever she had the chance. She was appointed to the Meigs County District Library in 1965 and served as President for 25 years, stepping down in 1999 but continuing as Trustee to date. She served on the Ohio State Library Trustee Board for years and was active as Ohio Valley Area Library Trustee for 20 years. She was named “Outstanding Trustee” and received Ohio Trustee Award in Columbus in 2008, accompanied by her husband, Roy and their four children.

Known as “Aunt Pat,” she loved to communicate with family and friends. She could recall the names of even the youngest of her great-great nieces and nephews. She holds a special place in the hearts of many people, as she had a unique talent for making each and every one feel special.

Pat repeated this quote in some of her writings, “It takes a minute to find a special person, an hour to really appreciate them, a day to love them, and entire lifetime to forget them.” We will never forget her.

Surviving are daughter Ann (Rick) Munafo with Jennifer (Toni) Fiorita and Dominic and Mya, Bryan Fox, Tracy (Adam) Blanchard and Evan and Avery; son Alan (Kaye) Holter with Ben (Mateja) Holter and Mason and Sienna, Ross Holter and Mary Vandeman; daughter Janice Holter Davis with Tricia (Garland) Tam and Carter and Owen, Zachary Davis and Cannon Davis; son Ed (Jan) Holter with Alyssa (Phil) Webb and Porter and Jada, Kelsey (Matt) Stewart and Emalyn and Kymber, Brenna Holter and Ty Harstine.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Chester Shade Historical Association, Box 5, Chester, OH 45720.

Funeral services will be 11 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 13, 2018, with Pastor Randy Smith officiating, at Anderson McDaniel Funeral Home in Pomeroy. Burial will follow at Chester Cemetery. Visiting hours will be 5-8 p.m. Friday at the funeral home.