Lola Alice Holliman

Lola Alice Holliman

Lola Alice Elliott Holliman was born on April 2, 1920, in Ottumwa, Iowa. She was the youngest of 5 children born to Myrle and Charles Elliott.

Lola received her early education in the schools of Ottumwa, Iowa, and graduated from Ottumwa High School. Following high school graduation, Lola attended the American Institute of Business in Des Moines, Iowa. She came to Washington, D.C. in October 1941, where she took a job at the Pentagon and met and fell in love with Earl Holliman, then a Major in the U.S. Army. During World War II, Earl was sent to the Pacific to serve as General Douglas MacArthur's Chief of Radio but as soon as the war was over, he asked Lola to join him in Japan. With the blessing of Major General Spencer Akin, then Chief Signal Officer of the Army, Lola was given passage on the first troop ship to carry civilians and was reunited with Earl in Tokyo. They married in 1946, and had the distinction of being the first American couple to be married in Tokyo after the war. They continued to live there for another year. From that union they were blessed with two children, Sandra and Sherry.

Lola accompanied Earl to numerous Army posts all over the world, including Heidelberg, Germany; Ft. Leavenworth, Kansas; Carlisle Barracks, Pennsylvania; Karlsruhe, Germany; and the Washington, D.C. area. Lola was involved in many community and church activities wherever she lived. Lola was one of the first females ever to hold the position of Purchasing Agent as she did from 1966-1968 with the System Development Corporation in Northern Virginia. She enjoyed golf, and for many years played in a women's golf league in Northern Virginia. She also enjoyed playing the organ, cooking, studying French, and sailing on the Chesapeake Bay with her husband and family.

Lola was preceded in death by her husband, Earl, who passed away in January 2010. She was also preceded in death by her daughter, Sandra Holliman Botton, in 2008. She is survived by her devoted daughter, Sherry Holliman, of Lynchburg, Virginia, and four loving grandchildren: Peter Botton of Blacksburg, VA; John Morrison, Jenna Holliman, and Brooks Morrison Tyree (with husband Hunter Tyree), of Lynchburg, VA. She also leaves a beloved great-granddaughter, Kasey Morrison of Lynchburg, VA, and many nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends. She is dearly loved and will be greatly missed by her family and friends.

The family is grateful to Westminster Canterbury Lynchburg and Centra Hospice of Lynchburg, Virginia for their attentive and loving care of Lola. In lieu of flowers, contributions in her name may be made to the Centra Hospice of Lynchburg.

Funeral services will be held August 27, 9 a.m., at the Old Post Chapel, Ft. Myer, VA. Interment will follow at Arlington National Cemetery.

Tharp Funeral Home & Crematory, Lynchburg is assisting the family. Condolences may be sent to www.tharpfuneralhome.com