Reynold Ray "Ron" Holder 1950-2011

Reynold Ray "Ron" Holder, 60, of Olney, Ill., formerly of Winchester and New Castle, passed away October 26, 2011 at Deaconess Hospital in Evansville. He fought a long and courageous battle with stomach cancer.

Ron was born December 23, 1950 in Parnell, Ky., to Ollie Blevins and Corbin "Jack" Holder. He married Shelby (Hale) Holder August 23, 1980 in Winchester and she survives. Ron graduated from New Castle Chrysler High School in 1969. He also had attended Knightstown High School. After graduation, Ron served in the US Navy aboard the USNS Chauvenet (1971-1972) and the USS De Haven (1972-1973). After his time in the Navy, Ron started his career with General Telephone and Electronics Corporation (GTE). He worked in many capacities from 1974 until 2002 when he retired as a BICS engineer. In 2003, Ron started his own business FOC Communications and Consulting. In 2005, Ron became a school bus driver for the East Richland School District where he drove the bus for two years. In 2007, Ron became the Senior Electrical Design Engineer at the Jacobs Engineering Group out of St. Louis Mo.

He was a trustee at First Assembly of God in Olney. He also led the Men's Ministry group at the church. He was previously involved with the church choir and was a leader of the Royal Rangers, a boys outreach group at First Assembly. Ron was also a member of Gideon's International Organization and the American Legion.

Survivors include his wife, Shelby (Hale) Holder; two sons, Zach Holder of Olney and Zeb Holder of Chester, Ill.; one daughter, Jennie Cole and her husband Scott of Middletown; two grandchildren, Ali and Hannah Cole; his mother, Ollie Blevins and her husband Loren of New Castle; three brothers, Keith Holder and his wife Inge of rural New Castle, Rick Holder and his wife Shelia of rural New Castle and Barry Holder and his wife Barb of New Castle; and two sisters, Charlene Sanders of Virginia and Jacqueline (Holder) Bradshaw (companion, Gerald).

He is preceded in death by his father Corbin "Jack" Holder; and his sister, Violet Brown.