Charles Lindberg Holman (“Charlie”) departed this life peacefully on December 19, 2022, at the age of 95 in Wayne, Pennsylvania, where he had moved in the spring to be near family.
Charlie was born on the 4th of July in Watertown, New York in 1927 – less than two months after Charles Lindbergh flew the Spirit of St. Louis across the Atlantic Ocean, which inspired his parents, Thomas and Dorothy, to name him after the famed aviator. Charlie graduated from Watertown High School and then obtained an Associate Degree at Canton Agricultural and Technical College. He lived in Watertown with his first wife, Vivian, until 1981, when he moved to Fort Mill, South Carolina. He was a talented car salesman during his long working life, and was always an avid bicyclist. He began running marathons when in his 70’s with his second wife, Doris Elizabeth Lippard Holman, who passed away in 2015. He often declared that although they were never the fastest runners in the race, they enjoyed every minute of them and finished them all. He was very proud to have spent the final 54 years of his life as a devoted Alcoholics Anonymous member after successfully, in his words, “putting the plug in the jug.” He enjoyed attending A.A. meetings (typically daily until the pandemic struck), and serving as an inspiration and source of comfort and support to others fighting the demon of alcoholism.
Charlie was a proud veteran of the United States Army Air Corps, the predecessor to the United States Air Force, and served our nation during World War II, including overseas in the Philippines.
He is survived by his first wife, Vivian Holman, and his children, Deborah Gillan and her husband Dean of Watertown, New York, Wesley Holman and his wife Jennifer of Baldwinsville, New York, Charles (“Chaz”) Holman and his wife Julie of Pillar Point, New York, and Timothy Holman and his wife Jennifer, of Wayne, Pennsylvania. He is also survived by his grandchildren, Devon Gillan, Marc, Ryan, Alexander and Nicholas Holman, Jade and Zoe Holman, and his great-grandchildren, Taylor and Connor Holman and Bryce and Hudson Holman. He is also survived by his step-son, Reverend Michael Lippard and his wife, Susan Springer of Franklin, Tennessee, his step-daughter Janice Lippard and her husband John Ogren of Boulder, Colorado, and his four step-grandchildren, Emily Lippard, David Ogren, Marcus Ogren and Hannah Lippard.
Burial arrangements are private.
If you are so inclined, the family suggests that memorial donations may be made to the local Alcoholics Anonymous group in your community, so that you can help that important organization continue to provide support to folks like Charlie, who deeply appreciated it.