He graduated from Harrisonburg Virginia High School and enlisted in the U.S. Navy on August 1, 1951 in Washington, DC. He married Genevieve Willis of Miami, FL on April 9, 1955.
After basic training in Great Lakes, IL, he began his service working in the AM shop in FasRon Fleet Aircraft Service Squadron 102 Naval Air Station Norfolk, VA. His received further education in the Airman Preparatory School in Jacksonville, Fl, AM “A” School in Memphis, TN. William was then assigned to the Heavy Attack Squadron 9 in Sanford, Fl. He served aboard seven Aircraft Carriers including the Midway, Forrestal, Lake Chaplain, Ticonderoga, Coral Sea, Roosevelt, and Independence He developed the Management Skill Staff for the Patrol Wings Command. William served with the Fleet Air Service 108, then Patrol Squadron 26 and Patrol Squadron 8 Brunswick Naval Air Station where he served as Command Master Chief beginning in 1979. He also served tours of Naval Air Stations in Kingsville, TX, Ocean VA, Glynco, GA, Patuxent River, MD, and Lajes, Azores. William served as Command Master Chief for the Atlantic Patrol Wings Commander from 1973-1976.
He was named outstanding young man of America in the 1969 edition of “Outstanding Young Men of America” due to his service and community spirit with the Chapel in the Pines, as a teacher of an adult bible class, coach of the intramural basketball team, and as a key man in the United Fund Drive.
After over three decades of service, he fully retired from the Navy on April 1, 1985. He was “a thoroughly Navy man and was a whale of a fellow” according to his fellow Navy men.
Bill was an avid bass fisherman, in 1996 he won the Maine Championship which sent him to the 1996 Big Bass World Championship in Oklahoma, where he tied for 21st place. He and his family enjoyed camping and never missed a year. His garden was his pride and joy, from the collard greens, kale and tomatoes to the rows and rows of flowers for this wife. Bill and Ginny were always traveling in their beloved Air Stream and have been wintering in Florida for the past 11 years.
In addition to his wife Genevieve of Topsham, ME, he is survived by 3 children, William C. Holloway Jr. of Hilo, HI, Beth Holloway and her fiance Jeff Slauenwhite of Litchfield, ME, and Paul Holloway of Redway, CA., 5 grandchildren, Chad and his wife Dori, Micah Holloway and his wife Hannah-sons of Bill Jr and Lila Bamford, Jennifer Dumais and her husband Alex – daughter of Donald and Pam MacLane, Michelle and Meagan Arsenault daughters of Beth and Mike Arsenault and 4 greatgrandchildren, Chad’s son, Colbie and Step Daughter Loni, Micah’s children Lucia, and Sawyer Holloway, and Jennifer’s daughter Callie Dumais.
He was predeceased by a son, Donald Holloway.
A memorial service will be held in the spring at Stetsons Funeral Home, Brunswick, ME. Burial with full Military Honors will be at Rogers Cemetery, Topsham, ME.
Donations in Bill’s memory may be made to American Heart Association, 51 US Route 1, Suite M, Scarborough, ME 04074.
Arrangements are by Stetson’s Funeral Home, 12 Federal St., Brunswick, ME where memorial condolences may be expressed at stetsonsfuneralhome.com.
Comments are not available on this story.
Send questions/comments to the editors.
