Roberta (“Bobbie”) W. Holzer

Roberta (“Bobbie”) W. Holzer passed away peacefully on December 23, 2020 at 7:30 a.m. at Holzer Assisted Living in Gallipolis, Ohio. She celebrated her 99th birthday in August.

Bobbie was born Roberta Aurilla Wilhelm in Point Pleasant, WV, on August 28, 1921, to the late Seth Chandler Wilhelm and Susannah Dixon Heslop. In addition to her parents, she is preceded in death by her husband, Charles E. Holzer, Jr., her daughter Karin H. O’Neil, her sister Nedra Jones, and her grandson Nathan Gallant. She is survived by her children Charles (Jean) E. Holzer, III of Galveston, TX, John (Ann) W. Holzer of Richmond, IN, Christiana Gallant of Burnsville, NC, and Amy (Dudley) Irvin of Westerville, OH. Surviving grandchildren are David O’Neil (Gahanna, OH), Robin Holzer ( Houston, TX), Christopher Holzer (Sugar Land , TX), Alan Holzer ( St. Paul, MN), Meredith Sudduth ( Greenwood, IN), Emily Foppert (Saranac, NY), Andrew Gallant ( Burnsville, NC), Lara Magdzinski ( Matthews, NC), Alexander Irvin ( Westerville, OH), and Eric Irvin ( Annapolis, MD). She is also survived by 16 great-grandchildren.

Bobbie was the valedictorian of the class of 1939 at Point Pleasant High School. She started college at Denison University, but chose to leave after one year to get married. She wed Charles E Holzer, Jr. on September 4, 1940 at Christ Episcopal Church in Point Pleasant. Having promised her father that she would complete her education, she went back to college. She

received her Bachelor of Arts degree from Ohio University with honors in 1978 at age 57. After that, she worked for several years as an International Student Advisor at Rio Grande College, helping foreign students navigate various challenges. Several students she worked with became lifelong family friends.

Bobbie was an active member of the Gallipolis community for more than 72 years. She was a member of St. Peter’s Episcopal Church, Thursday Club, Bridge Club, Daughters of the American Revolution, Friends of the Library, Episcopal Church Women, and the French Art Colony as well as being involved in PTA, Girl Scouts, and more when her children were growing up. She was a loyal patron of the Ariel Theatre and the Ohio Valley Symphony. Her activities and interests were many and varied, but she put her heart into everything in which she got involved. She loved her life in Gallipolis and cherished all of her friendships. She was a person who treated everyone with respect and was truly interested in what others had to offer. She will be greatly missed by everyone who knew and loved her.

There will be no services at this time as the family has chosen to wait until gathering to celebrate her life is safe. The date and time is to be determined but the community will be notified when something is planned.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donation in her memory to :

St. Peter’s Episcopal Church

Holzer Hospice

The Ariel Cultural & Performing Arts Centre, Inc.

The French Art Colony

Gallipolis in Bloom

Gallipolis in Lights

Thank you to all of the friends who continued to bless Bobbie with their special care and friendship in her later years, especially Tammi Davison, Bonnie McFarland, Jay and Sherri Jarrell, Evelyn Kirkhart, Valerie Thomas, and her St Peter’s and Holzer Assisted Living families.

Waugh-Halley- Wood Funeral Home is assisting the family.