Dr. Holman C. Rawls III

1941 - 2014

Dr. Holman C. (Skip) Rawls III

Virginia Beach - Dr. Holman C. (Skip) Rawls, III, departed this life on October 9, 2014 after waging a valiant battle against cancer. He was born in Norfolk, Virginia to Elizabeth Woodhouse Rawls and Holman C. Rawls, Jr., on January 13, 1941. He was predeceased by his mother, Elizabeth Woodhouse Rawls Blee, and his father, Captain Rawls USAF,who became missing in action in the Korean War (1953). Dr. Rawls was the grandson of Clinton M. and Elizabeth W. Woodhouse from Currituck, NC and Holman C. and Haddie McCullough Rawls from Durham, NC., and great grandson of James Edmond Roberts Hodges Woodhouse, keeper Dam Neck Mills Lifesaving Station 1901 - 1920.

Dr. Rawls was raised in Virginia Beach where he attended Virginia Beach High School. He also attended Virginia Episcopal School where he was Head Counselor and Head of the School's Honor Committee. During his high school years he lettered in both football and track. He attend Hampden-Sydney College where he was a member of the Inter-fraternity Council, the Kappa Sigma Fraternity and the Patrick Henry Society. He graduated in 1963 with a BS degree and went to higher studies at the Medical College of Virginia's School of Dentistry, graduating in 1967 third in his senior class. During his summers in the 50's and 60's, he worked as a lifeguard on the Virginia Beach oceanfront for Dusty Hinnant and Hugh Kitchen, who operated the Virginia Beach Patrol Lifeguard Service for the City. He became a surfing enthusiast, starting on wooden boards then graduating to the lighter balsa and fiberglass boards when they became available. His sound lifesaving skills and handsome good looks were a formidable combination to all who encountered him at the oceanfront.

Upon completion of his formal education, Dr. Rawls enlisted in the United States Navy Dental Corps as a Lieutenant stationed at Great Lakes, Illinois. While there, he set a military production patient care record in the company of 50-75 other military dentists caring for 50% of all Navy recruits at the time. He was later transferred to the USS Montrail and cruised the Mediterranean for six months as he worked. This was the beginning of a lifelong career of travel to see the rest of the world with his wife Brenda. He was honorably discharged in 1969.

After leaving the service, he was accepted into the University of Maryland's Residency Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery program in Baltimore. This hospital started the first Trauma Unit in the United States presenting a unique training experience that Dr. Rawls would bring to Virginia Beach after residency completion in 1972.

Successfully finishing his education, military service, and residency, Dr. Rawls went into private practice in Virginia Beach with his partner, Dr. Robert Whitmore, Jr. After the required two years of private practice, he sat for and passed his Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Boards. Over decades of productive practice, their firm grew into a multi-doctor group respected by all as it expanded into a total of three offices within the city. While Dr. Rawls practiced the full scope of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, he was noted for excelling in difficult trauma and reconstruction cases. His professional skills changed the lives of many for the better, as his surgical skills restored them to meaningful lives.

As a highly accomplished surgeon, Dr. Rawls enjoyed fellowship as a member of multiple professional organizations including: The American Board of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, The American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, The American College of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, The Virginia Dental Association, The Tidewater Dental Association and The Virginia Beach Dental Association for which he served as President. His medical tenure also found him serving as a staff member of Virginia Beach General Hospital, Leigh Memorial Hospital, Norfolk General Hospital and DePaul Hospital prior to his retirement in 2011.

Skip was an active member of Galilee Episcopal Church, The Chrysler Museum's Masterpiece Society and a founding member of the Chrysler's Mowbray Arch Society. He was on Eastern Virginia Medical School's committee to interview prospective medical students. As a member of the Princess Anne Country Club, he enjoyed many hours of golf, tennis and his much valued fellowship with his friends. He loved to travel the world. Multi-talented, he taught himself sculpting in the lost wax technique of bronze casting, creating many pieces.

Communing with nature, prompted him to acquire a farm on the James River where he spent many recreational hours hunting and raising honey bees. The farm environment enabled him to enjoy wonderful times with his children and grandchildren hunting deer, turkeys and jump shooting ducks from a canoe, a skill he had acquired while attending Medical College of Virginia. His love for the outdoors began as a boy when he hunted ducks on the Linkhorn Bay when it was legal to do so. He also enjoyed many hours reading nonfiction works on world figures and listening to classical music. Skip had an indepth collection of classical and contemporary music. Because his love of music was so extensive, he was a member of the Virginia Symphony for thirty-five years. His friends were amazed by his ability to recite poetry gleaned from studies many years before.

Skip will be remembered by so many friends as a loving, caring individual who always considered others before he thought of himself. He was an engaging conversationalist who made those around him feel their time with him was well spent. He was extremely well read and always willing to listen to the opinions of those engaged in dialogue with him. He was respectful and earned the respect of all who met him. His good looks and wonderful smile made all comfortable to be in his presence. Skip remains forever a good friend missed by so many.

He is survived by his wife Brenda who was his elementary, high school, and college sweetheart, three sons and their wives, Holman (Christina), Wesley (Sheila) and Richard (Nancy), and five grandchildren (Summer, Luke, Riley, Isabella and Skyler).

He is also survived by three step sons and their wives: Brian S. Grieves (Helen), Bret S. Grieves (Laurie), and Brier S. Grieves and eight grandchildren (Kaylee, Ben, Will, Brian, John, Caroline, Tyler and Sam).

The celebration of life service will be held on Wednesday October 15th at 10:30 at Galilee Episcopal Church, 3928 Pacific Avenue, Virginia Beach. H.D. Oliver Funeral Apts., Laskin Rd Chapel is handling arrangements.

Donations can be made in Dr. Rawls' honor to Father Nigel Mumford's Healing Ministry By His Wounds, Inc., c/o Galilee Church, 3928 Pacific Avenue, VB 23451; Virginia Episcopal School, 400 VES Road, Lynchburg, VA 24503; Hampden-Sydney Scholarship College Fund, Hampden-Sydney College, 1 College Road, Hampden-Sydney, VA 23901; or Young Life of Virginia Beach, P.O. Box 4492, Virginia Beach, VA 23454. Online condolences may be made to the family at hdoliver.com.