Warren L. Holland Sr.

December 6, 2017

Warren L. Holland, Sr., 91, of Norfolk, died of pneumonia and heart failure on December 6th at Sentara Norfolk General Hospital. Born in Erwin, North Carolina, he was the son of Burke Elmo Holland and Iva Ressler Holland. He spent his youth in North Carolina and Pennsylvania before attending N.C. State College Technical School and serving in the U. S. Navy during WWII. At various times, he was stationed in both the Atlantic and Pacific theaters aboard the U.S.S. Rixey and U.S.S. Haskell. He married Joyce Pickett in 1951 and settled with her in Portsmouth to raise their family. For many years Holland was a masonry and general contractor, and over the years his companies built many buildings throughout Hampton Roads. For thirty years he was also a partner in and general manager of Airline Self Storage in Portsmouth. In addition to his military service, Holland was proud of his service in the Virginia National Guard, as a licensed pilot in the U.S. Air Force Auxiliary Civil Air Patrol, and multiple appointments by four Virginia governors as an Aide-de-Camp in the Virginia Militia from 1982 through 2001. He actively participated in many community and professional organizations, serving as a past president of the Tidewater Masonry & Builders Association and as a member of the Portsmouth Planning Commission. Throughout his life, he had a sharp, curious mind that resulted in numerous inventions, including a U.S. patent. His appreciation of people made him a popular and beloved figure wherever he went. Never at a loss for words or witty quips, he usually brought a smile to any person he encountered. For the past ten years, Holland was a welcome and familiar presence in downtown Norfolk, where he greeted everyone with humorous banter during his daily outings. Warren was pre-deceased by his parents and two brothers (Keith and Charles), and in 2014 by his loving and devoted wife of 63 years, Joyce Pickett Holland. He is survived by two children, Warren Holland Jr. of Norfolk, and Teri Eddleman (Rick) of Virginia Beach; two granddaughters, Brielle Ashley (Mark) of Virginia Beach and Rickell Holland (Matt) of Harrisburg, NC; six great-grandchildren (McKenna, Kellyn and Rylan Holland and Braedon, Vann, and Lila Kai Ashley); a brother, Burke Holland; sisters Becky Taylor, Ruth Cook (Herman), Mary Bixler (Leon), and Carol Pearson; and many beloved nieces, nephews, and other relatives. A funeral service will be held on Monday, December 18th at 11:00 a.m. at Freemason Street Baptist Church, 400 E. Freemason Street (located at the intersection of Bank and Freemason Streets) in Norfolk. Interment will be at 3:00 p.m. on Monday afternoon at the Albert G. Horton Jr. Memorial Veterans Cemetery at 5310 Milner’s Road in Suffolk. Arrangements are being coordinated by Loving Funeral Home.