Howard Holsinger

Howard D. “Hap” Holsinger, age 93, passed away peacefully Tuesday, January 10, 2017 at Marion General Hospital. Born December 22, 1923 in Poneto, IN to the late Benjamin L. and Linnie (Welch) Holsinger, being the third of 5 children. Hap’s family moved to Newport, IN in 1942 where his father, a carpenter, was employed in the construction of a munitions plant to support the war effort. It is there that he met the love of his life, the girl across the street, Virginia Asbury. Upon graduation from Newport High School Class of 1943 he was drafted into the US Army Air-Corps pilot training program and later transferring to the infantry to fill the need for more troops on the ground as a Corporal and Squad leader serving at the Battle of the Bulge and later helping to liberate the German Concentration Camps, receiving a field promotion to Sargent at the end of the war. Hap returned from Europe following his discharge and married the love of his life, Virginia on July 25, 1945 in Bluffton, IN and together they moved to Columbus, Ohio in 1949; where he became a machinist and later a draftsman and designer with Fred D. Phening Company. Retired from Universal Electric Company as a sales engineer. He was an avid fisherman, hunter and founding member of the Bill Moose muzzle-loading gun club. Member and past Master of Community Masonic Lodge #684 F&AM, Aladdin Shrine past Master unit and Scottish Rite. A man of many skills he became a man who could fix anything and was always sought out by family, friends and neighbors because of his talents. Following the passing of Virginia “Ginny” he moved to Edison, Ohio to live with his son and daughter-in-law Ben and Carol. Preceded in death by loving wife of 68 years Ginny 2013, brother Broox Holsinger and sister Ellen Osborn. Survived by sons H. David (Maureen) Holsinger, Pataskala, OH, Benjamin L. (Carol) Holsinger, Edison, OH and adopted son Klaus Peter (Elke) Schroeder, Icking, Germany, grandchildren Jennifer Noch, Charlotte, NC, Major-USAF Wesley (Lyndsey) Holsinger, El-Paso, TX, Melissa Kidwell, Mt. Gilead, OH, E. Cameron Holsinger, New York, NY, Tim (Shimona) Schroeder, Berlin, Germany and Lisa (Wolfgang) Eckert, Obing, Germany, great grandchildren Alexandra, Connor, Charlotte, NC, Mason and Cooper, Mt. Gilead, OH, Hudson, Harrison and Hailey, El-Paso, TX, Zara and Karma, Berlin, Germany, brother Richard Holsinger and sister Iris Hunt, Bluffton, IN, numerous loving relatives and friends. Family will receive friends Sunday, January 15, 2017 from 1-4 pm at the TIDD FAMILY FUNERAL HOME, 5265 Norwich St., Hilliard, OH 43026. Private family burial with military honors at Wesley Chapel Cemetery, Hilliard, OH. www.tiddfuneralservice.com