Donald Holt, age 85, of Florence, died on Friday, December 25, 2009.
Visitation with family members will be Monday from 9:30 a.m. until 11:00 a.m. at Elkins Funeral Home. The funeral service will follow in the Elkins Chapel. Officiating will be Kenny Barfield. Burial will follow in Greenview Cemetery.
Mr. Holt was a native of Florence, graduated from Coffee High School and Florence State Teachers College. He was a veteran of World War II, having served in both the Coast Artillery and the Army Air Corp.
He was in the retail hardware business before being appointed Florence Postmaster in 1953, where he served until retirement in 1989. He was a member of the Sherrod Avenue Church of Christ. He served as a volunteer for the American Heart Association and for the March of Dimes. He served as campaign Co-Chairman and President of United Way. He served as President of the Florence Exchange Club, the North Florence Business Association, and the Alabama Chapter of the National Association of Postmasters. He was a member of the Board of Directors of the Chamber of Commerce and the Riverbend Mental Health Center. He also served as a commissioner of the Florence Housing Authority.
He is survived by a daughter, Winnie Lichtner and husband John, Centennial, Colorado, and grandchildren Gabina and John; brothers J.B. Holt, Longview, WA and Fred Holt and wife Amy, Florence.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Sarah Morris Holt, and sisters, Morine Peck and Jean Poole.
Nephews will serve as pallbearers. Honorary pallbearers will be Sam Esslinger, O.T. Mefford, Bill Flannagan, Rivers Lindsey, Ken Williams, Charles Thomas, James Johnson, and George Oliver.
In lieu of flowers, please consider memorials to the Florence-Lauderdale Public Library.