Elvan Overholtzer

ELVAN OVERHOLTZER OCT 12, 1925 - MAY 27, 2008 Elvan Overholtzer was born October 12, 1925 at home on Shoemake Ave in Modesto, CA, the youngest of two sets of twins to Enoch and Martha (Garber) Overholtzer. Dad grew up in the Wood Colony area and attended Ransom School. Father married Gwendolyn Ford on October 31, 1943. Their first homes were in Modesto. They lived in Ripon several years and finally settled in the Escalon area. Dad was a woodworker; he loved to work with his hands and to see what he could accomplish with woodworking tools and machinery. His first business was Riverside Cabinet Shop on River Road in Modesto. In 1952, Dad founded Overholtzer Church Furniture, Inc. In the late 70s, he began making residential doors and mouldings at Oakwood Products in Modesto. In the mid 80s, he began making picture frame mouldings in Riverbank at the Micawrap Moulding Company. In 1989, he started American Laminates, Inc. in Riverbank, manufacturing melamine panels. Dad was a hard worker. He had many friends in the community and inside the woodworking industry, being well known in that field. Over the years he had hired many people. He enjoyed working along with his employees in the shop and at job sites and developed a friendship with them that remains to this day. Dad passed away on May 27, 2008 at English Oaks Convalescent Hospital in Modesto leaving two sons: Durand and Suzanne Overholtzer of Denair, Dwayne Overholtzer of Riverbank and one daughter, Sherry Denise Overholtzer of Albuquerque, NM; 5 grand- children: Aaron Overholtzer of St. Ignatius, MT, John Overholtzer of Modesto, CA, Diane Shuck of Baldwin City, KS, Jesse Overholtzer of Denair CA, and Bryna Osgood of Femont, CA; 17 great grand- children; Floyd and Vertrilla Overholtzer of Modesto, his twin sister, Elva Bascue of Empire, CA and a sister-in-law, Bobette Overholtzer of Sonora, CA; and many friends and acquaintances. He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife Gwendolyn on July 2, 2007; one granddaughter, Marisa Overholtzer; one great-grandson, Avery John Shuck; three brothers Arthur, David, and Lloyd Overholtzer; and three sisters, Ella Collins, Mildred Skinner, and Jennie Cowan. Dad was a member of the Old German Baptist Brethren Church. Visitation will be held at Salas Brothers Chapel on Scenic Drive Friday, May 30, 2008 from 4 to 8:00 PM. Services will be held Saturday, May 31, 10 AM at the Modesto District of the Old German Baptist Brethren Church, 2866 West Rumble Road, Modesto. Burial will follow in the Wood Colony Cemetery. Remembrances may be made to: Brethren Heritage School 3549 N. Dakota Ave. Modesto, CA 95358-9763www.modbee.com/obituaries