Richard Emery Hollis

Spartanburg, SC – Richard E. Hollis, age 85, died on Monday, February 21, 2022, at Spartanburg Medical Center.

Born December 15, 1936, in Union, South Carolina, Richard was the youngest child of the late Mary Elizabeth Alverson and Orin Bomar Hollis. Predeceased by seven brothers and sisters, Richard was a beloved baby brother.

Richard graduated from Wofford College in 1958 and after a brief tour in the Navy returned to Spartanburg where he joined C&S Bank. In 1967, he made a career change and joined LBC&W Architecture and Engineering firm in Columbia, South Carolina as a Business Development Executive. Transferred to Alexandria, Virginia in 1973 Richard remained in the field of marketing and sales until his retirement from the Architectural firm of Wisnewski Blair and Associates in 2002.

Richard lived a full and successful life in Alexandria, Virginia. He served as President of the United Way, Belle Haven Country Club, and the Alexandria Chamber of Commerce. Additionally, he served on the Board of Directors of the American Red Cross and the Advisory Board of the Salvation Army ending his volunteer time as Chairman from 1998-2002. He was an active member of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Alexandria, Virginia where he served three terms on the Vestry and actively participated in services as a lay-reader and licensed chalice bearer.

Upon his retirement, Richard returned to Spartanburg where he continued his volunteer work with the Spartanburg Lions Club, The Salvation Army and the Charles Lea Center. He was a member of The Episcopal Church of the Advent where he served as chalice bearer and lay-reader. Most importantly, however, Richard became a stalwart member of the Wofford Alumni Association and enthusiastically supported Wofford football, basketball and baseball. He took enormous pride in being a Wofford graduate and had a number of special friends in the Wofford community. GO Terriers!

Finally! Richard is survived by two daughters, Laura (Peter Terry) and Chellie (Cliff Blondes); and four grandchildren, MollyKate, Maggy, Madison Terry and Graham Blondes, who lovingly called him Big Bip. In addition to a number of nieces and nephews who enjoyed his light hearted approach to life, he leaves behind a hand full of devoted childhood friends who lovingly supported each other through the ups and downs of eighty plus years of life.

A memorial service will be held on Thursday February 24th at 4:00 p.m. at the Episcopal Church of the Advent.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Charles Lea Center, 195 Burdette Street Spartanburg, South Carolina 29307, https://www.charleslea.org/