John Morris Hollingsworth

John Morris Hollingsworth, 80, of Roanoke, formerly of Sarasota, Fla., peacefully passed away after a lengthy illness on Sunday, July 12, 2009. He was born in Linden, N.J. to the late Morris and Helen Hollingsworth and was also preceded in death by his step-mother, June Hollingsworth and his brother, Richard Hollingsworth. Mr. Hollingsworth was employed for 35 years with American Airlines as a Captain and retired in 1988 from Los Angeles, Calif. He had taught Sunday School for thirty years and had been a member of First Christian Church for 12 years where he also was the Head of the Christian Education Department. He was a lively, loving, committed member of each community he had lived in. Surviving are his wife of 44 years, Kay Hollingsworth; children, Leslie Hollingsworth Brown and husband, Tim of Roanoke, John Eric Hollingsworth and wife, Susan of Bowie, Md., and Alicia Hollingsworth of Roanoke; grandchildren, Jessica Wolak and Brandon Brown both of Roanoke; great-grandchildren, Landon Parker of Roanoke and sister-in-law, Janet Hollingsworth of Enon, Ohio as well as numerous nieces, nephews and other family members. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to First Christian Church, 344 Church Avenue SW, Roanoke, Va., 24016 or RADAR, P.O. Box 13825, Roanoke, Va., 24037. A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, July 15, 2009 at Oakey's Roanoke Chapel with the Rev. Jim Rivers. A private inurnment will take place at a later date. The family will receive friends from 12 to 3 p.m. on Tuesday at Oakey's Roanoke Chapel, 540-982-2100.