Ernest Holman

Ernest Bedford Holman, 90 of Emory, TX, passed away Friday, May 31, 2013. Visitation will be at the Wilson Orwosky Funeral Home 6:00 to 8:00 P.M. Tuesday June 4. Services will be held 2:00 P.M. Wednesday, June 5. at Emory Baptist Church. Dr. Joe Perkins and Rev. Robert Burns will officiate. Burial will be in Clifton Cemetery.
The son of Guy Stevens and Balmy Lennon Holman, E. B, was born in the pioneer log home of his Lennon Grandparents on January 17, 1923, in Rains County. Mr. Holman graduated from Emory High School in 1941 and learned welding at the Burnett, TX NYA Camp. He was sent to Bremerton, Washington Shipyard where he helped repair battleships damaged at Pearl Harbor. Mr. Holman was a World war II Navy veteran serving in the Pacific Theater. After graduation from Texas A&M University (class of 1949), Mr. Holman became a vocational agriculture teacher in the Emory, later Rains, school system. Many a rural homes in Rains County was plumbed by agriculture students when he arranged a tool loan program for the school. Mr. Holman meet and married Betty Jane Tinney during his first year of teaching on April 8,1950. He obtained his master's degree from East Texas State and spent his last ten years in education as Superintendent of Rains ISD, retiring in 1985.
Mr. Holman brought innovation to local and state agriculture. As a rancher, he built the first suspension barbed wire fence in Rains County, was appointed to the Lake Fork Flood Control Project in the 1950's and helped conduct the Screw Worm Eradication program across several counties. He and his son Steve, baled the first big round hay bales in the state of Texas at the end of May 1972. Mr. Holman started a farm implement business and sold the innovative Vermeer Baler System. In addition to his careers and raising a family, Mr. Holman served as the high school football play by play announcer for the Wildcats. He participated in many civic organizations, and was a long time Sunday School teacher and Deacon of Emory Baptist Church.
Ernest Holman was preceded in death by his parents, and his loving wife of 51 years, brother, Arlie Holman, sisters, Mildred Martin, Estelle Potts, and Della Gray.
He is survived by sisters, June Hubble (Grand Rapids, MI), Hilma Christine Rayshell and husband Charles (Oklahoma City, OK), Juanice Simmons and husband Bobby (Mesquite, TX) son, Steve Holman and wife Lisa, daughters, Cindy Cooper and husband Mickey, Linda Gudger and husband Larry, (all of Emory). Grandchildren, Daniel Holman, Krista Fischer, Kara Holman, Blake Cooper, Rachel Holcomb, Cora Cooper, Evan Gudger, Dan Gudger, Audrey Gudger, Caylin Gudger, Benjamin Gudger. Great-grandchildren, Collin and Cayden Holcomb, and Norah Fischer, dear friend Nancy Simmons, and numerous other relatives and friends.
Pallbearers are grandsons, and granddaughters, Daniel, Blake, Evan, Dan, Rachel and Cora. Honorary Pallbearers are members of The King's Men Sunday School Class and Deacons of Emory Baptist Church. In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to Clifton Cemetery Association, 10275 FM 275 South, Cumby, TX 75433, and Emory Baptist Church, P. O. Box 248, Emory, TX 75440