Obituary for Olive Marie Holt
Olive Marie (Stonebraker) Holt went home to be with her Lord on June 19, 2020. She bravely fought
pancreatic cancer in the days before her homegoing. She was born April 14, 1934, in Indiana, Pa. Her father
was Harry Wesley Stonebraker and her mother was Marie Louise (Olliver) Stonebraker. Her family and loved
ones rejoice that Olive is now with the Lord in her eternal home.
Olive devoted her life to loving her Savior Jesus Christ. She gave her heart to the Lord at a young age and
showed her love for Jesus through passionate prayer, studying the scripture, and service to others. Proverbs
(NIV) says, “Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her.” She prayed for her children and grandchildren each day by name and interceded on their behalf throughout her life. Together, she and her husband led their family in prayer and Bible reading early each morning. She gave her children music lessons and shared her love of birds, insects, and flowers with them on nature walks. She enjoyed listening to birds and identifying their songs. One of the special places she took her family to be close to nature was the Middle Mountain Cabins in West Virginia. She found relaxation through art, sewing, and gardening.
She served as the organist and a Sunday school teacher at church and participated in the Hand Bell Choir and annual Christmas Cantata. Later in life, she tenderly cared for her husband as he battled Parkinson’s Disease. Throughout this time, she claimed the promise, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” (II Cor. 12:9). She is now reunited with him and her parents in Heaven.
Olive was born on April 14, 1934, and she lived most of her life in Indiana County, Pa. Her father, Harry W.
Stonebraker, operated an apple orchard; she spent her childhood picking apples, making apple butter,
gardening, churning butter, sled riding, and playing with her siblings, David and Roseann. She enjoyed hand-
milking the family cow Buttercup who grazed leisurely in the pasture and gave rich fresh milk every day. She
helped her mother make large dinners for the thrashing crew who worked their wheat fields during thrashing
season. As a child she enjoyed catching fireflies and listening to classical music. She and her family attended
church camps in Mahaffey and Stoneboro during the summers and slept in tents on straw mattresses.
While in elementary school, she walked to Lutz School with her siblings over the fields that were part of the
Stonebraker apple orchard. It was while at Lutz School that she was given her first set of water colors and
enjoyed painting. Olive graduated from Indiana High School in 1951. She was a gifted musician and artist
from a young age. She taught herself how to play a pump organ in her family’s farmhouse dining room. She
also enjoyed playing the piano, guitar, accordion, and harmonica.
Following her passion for music, she graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Music Education from Marion
College in 1955. While at Marion College, she lived in Baker House and was the piano accompanist for
chapel and the college choir. She enjoyed the company of her pet canary, and upon its demise, she organized an elaborate funeral complete with a trumpet serenade.
Olive had a deep sense of compassion and caring for others and, following in the path of her mother Marie, she graduated from Indiana Hospital School of Nursing in 1958. After graduation, she felt called to minister to the Navajo Nation. She served as school nurse and teacher at the All Tribes Mission School in New Mexico for three years. On weekends, she enjoyed hiking and exploring the nearby national forest and looking out over the desert from the surrounding mountains. She collected artifacts and painted desert scenes and local
residents.
She continued her passion for nursing and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing from Case Western Reserve University in 1962. Upon graduation, she was inducted into the International Honor Society of Nursing. She served the residents of Fayette County, Pennsylvania, as a Community Health Nurse for four
years. Olive continued her study of nursing at the University of Pennsylvania, and while completing her
degree, she fell in love with her future husband, Harry Gerald “Jerry” Holt.
Harry introduced her to his new 1965 Chevrolet Impala Super Sport on their first date and together they
enjoyed romantic times together in Ardmore, Pennsylvania. Her family knew their courtship was serious when
she drove “Super Baby” home to Indiana, Pa., with Harry. She completed her Master of Science in Nursing in
1968, and married Harry Gerald Holt on June, 22 1968. They were happily married for almost 50 years and
had a loving, close relationship.
Olive and her husband soon were very busy raising four children under four years old, including twin boys.
She joined the Nursing Department at Indiana University of Pennsylvania in 1971 where she taught
Community Health Nursing for 25 years. She is remembered by her colleagues and students for the sense of
peace and serenity they felt when in her office.
Olive retired from IUP in 1996 and served her community in volunteer service. She served as a volunteer for
the Visiting Nurses Association Hospice program and the American Red Cross. She delivered a monthly
musical program along with her family at a long-term care facility. In the role of an Auxiliary member of
Gideons International, she assisted her husband in supplying Bibles to persons around the world. She and her husband served as Pennsylvania State Membership Coordinators. During the later years of her life she enjoyed traveling with her husband to visit her children and grandchildren and winters in Florida.
She was preceded in death by her husband Harry Gerald Holt; her parents, Harry W. Stonebraker and Marie L. (Olliver) Stonebraker; an infant brother, John Alain Stonebraker; a brother, Rev. Paul David Stonebraker, and a sister-in-law, Ruby (Dongell) E. Stonebraker.
She is survived by her daughter, Lynn Marie Uber (Dr. Glenn) of Slippery Rock, Pennsylvania; sons Dr. Harry
David Holt of State College, Pennsylvania; Major Stephen Gerald (Kerry) Holt of Monrovia, Maryland; and
Lieutenant Samuel Bradley (Dr. Kristen) Holt of Rosedale, Maryland. Also, grandchildren Benjamin, Jonathan
and Daniel Uber; Ethan, Nathan, and Logan Holt; and John and Valerie Holt. And her sister Rosann (Clarence) (Stonebraker) Mayhle and a special “adopted sister” Beverly Johnston of Indiana.
The family extends special thanks to the Visiting Nursing Association caregivers who provided loving care
and allowed Olive to have a comfortable end of her journey to Heaven.
Funeral arrangements are under the direction of the Rairigh-Bence Funeral Home in Indiana. Viewing will be
on Monday, June 22 nd , 2-4 p.m., and 7-9 p.m.. Additional viewing will be at the Indiana Wesleyan Methodist
Church on the corner of 12th and Church Streets from 10 -11 a.m. on Tuesday, June 23 rd , followed by the
funeral service at 11:00 a.m, and interment in the Oakland Cemetery. Pastors Ben Blowers and Joseph Smith
will officiate the funeral. Face masks and social distancing will be required.
In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be given to the Indiana Wesleyan Methodist Church, 31 S. 12th Street
Indiana, PA 15701, or The Gideons International, Post Office Box 63, Indiana, PA. 15701.
Online condolences may be made at: www.rbfh.net.
pancreatic cancer in the days before her homegoing. She was born April 14, 1934, in Indiana, Pa. Her father
was Harry Wesley Stonebraker and her mother was Marie Louise (Olliver) Stonebraker. Her family and loved
ones rejoice that Olive is now with the Lord in her eternal home.
Olive devoted her life to loving her Savior Jesus Christ. She gave her heart to the Lord at a young age and
showed her love for Jesus through passionate prayer, studying the scripture, and service to others. Proverbs
(NIV) says, “Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her.” She prayed for her children and grandchildren each day by name and interceded on their behalf throughout her life. Together, she and her husband led their family in prayer and Bible reading early each morning. She gave her children music lessons and shared her love of birds, insects, and flowers with them on nature walks. She enjoyed listening to birds and identifying their songs. One of the special places she took her family to be close to nature was the Middle Mountain Cabins in West Virginia. She found relaxation through art, sewing, and gardening.
She served as the organist and a Sunday school teacher at church and participated in the Hand Bell Choir and annual Christmas Cantata. Later in life, she tenderly cared for her husband as he battled Parkinson’s Disease. Throughout this time, she claimed the promise, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” (II Cor. 12:9). She is now reunited with him and her parents in Heaven.
Olive was born on April 14, 1934, and she lived most of her life in Indiana County, Pa. Her father, Harry W.
Stonebraker, operated an apple orchard; she spent her childhood picking apples, making apple butter,
gardening, churning butter, sled riding, and playing with her siblings, David and Roseann. She enjoyed hand-
milking the family cow Buttercup who grazed leisurely in the pasture and gave rich fresh milk every day. She
helped her mother make large dinners for the thrashing crew who worked their wheat fields during thrashing
season. As a child she enjoyed catching fireflies and listening to classical music. She and her family attended
church camps in Mahaffey and Stoneboro during the summers and slept in tents on straw mattresses.
While in elementary school, she walked to Lutz School with her siblings over the fields that were part of the
Stonebraker apple orchard. It was while at Lutz School that she was given her first set of water colors and
enjoyed painting. Olive graduated from Indiana High School in 1951. She was a gifted musician and artist
from a young age. She taught herself how to play a pump organ in her family’s farmhouse dining room. She
also enjoyed playing the piano, guitar, accordion, and harmonica.
Following her passion for music, she graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Music Education from Marion
College in 1955. While at Marion College, she lived in Baker House and was the piano accompanist for
chapel and the college choir. She enjoyed the company of her pet canary, and upon its demise, she organized an elaborate funeral complete with a trumpet serenade.
Olive had a deep sense of compassion and caring for others and, following in the path of her mother Marie, she graduated from Indiana Hospital School of Nursing in 1958. After graduation, she felt called to minister to the Navajo Nation. She served as school nurse and teacher at the All Tribes Mission School in New Mexico for three years. On weekends, she enjoyed hiking and exploring the nearby national forest and looking out over the desert from the surrounding mountains. She collected artifacts and painted desert scenes and local
residents.
She continued her passion for nursing and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing from Case Western Reserve University in 1962. Upon graduation, she was inducted into the International Honor Society of Nursing. She served the residents of Fayette County, Pennsylvania, as a Community Health Nurse for four
years. Olive continued her study of nursing at the University of Pennsylvania, and while completing her
degree, she fell in love with her future husband, Harry Gerald “Jerry” Holt.
Harry introduced her to his new 1965 Chevrolet Impala Super Sport on their first date and together they
enjoyed romantic times together in Ardmore, Pennsylvania. Her family knew their courtship was serious when
she drove “Super Baby” home to Indiana, Pa., with Harry. She completed her Master of Science in Nursing in
1968, and married Harry Gerald Holt on June, 22 1968. They were happily married for almost 50 years and
had a loving, close relationship.
Olive and her husband soon were very busy raising four children under four years old, including twin boys.
She joined the Nursing Department at Indiana University of Pennsylvania in 1971 where she taught
Community Health Nursing for 25 years. She is remembered by her colleagues and students for the sense of
peace and serenity they felt when in her office.
Olive retired from IUP in 1996 and served her community in volunteer service. She served as a volunteer for
the Visiting Nurses Association Hospice program and the American Red Cross. She delivered a monthly
musical program along with her family at a long-term care facility. In the role of an Auxiliary member of
Gideons International, she assisted her husband in supplying Bibles to persons around the world. She and her husband served as Pennsylvania State Membership Coordinators. During the later years of her life she enjoyed traveling with her husband to visit her children and grandchildren and winters in Florida.
She was preceded in death by her husband Harry Gerald Holt; her parents, Harry W. Stonebraker and Marie L. (Olliver) Stonebraker; an infant brother, John Alain Stonebraker; a brother, Rev. Paul David Stonebraker, and a sister-in-law, Ruby (Dongell) E. Stonebraker.
She is survived by her daughter, Lynn Marie Uber (Dr. Glenn) of Slippery Rock, Pennsylvania; sons Dr. Harry
David Holt of State College, Pennsylvania; Major Stephen Gerald (Kerry) Holt of Monrovia, Maryland; and
Lieutenant Samuel Bradley (Dr. Kristen) Holt of Rosedale, Maryland. Also, grandchildren Benjamin, Jonathan
and Daniel Uber; Ethan, Nathan, and Logan Holt; and John and Valerie Holt. And her sister Rosann (Clarence) (Stonebraker) Mayhle and a special “adopted sister” Beverly Johnston of Indiana.
The family extends special thanks to the Visiting Nursing Association caregivers who provided loving care
and allowed Olive to have a comfortable end of her journey to Heaven.
Funeral arrangements are under the direction of the Rairigh-Bence Funeral Home in Indiana. Viewing will be
on Monday, June 22 nd , 2-4 p.m., and 7-9 p.m.. Additional viewing will be at the Indiana Wesleyan Methodist
Church on the corner of 12th and Church Streets from 10 -11 a.m. on Tuesday, June 23 rd , followed by the
funeral service at 11:00 a.m, and interment in the Oakland Cemetery. Pastors Ben Blowers and Joseph Smith
will officiate the funeral. Face masks and social distancing will be required.
In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be given to the Indiana Wesleyan Methodist Church, 31 S. 12th Street
Indiana, PA 15701, or The Gideons International, Post Office Box 63, Indiana, PA. 15701.
Online condolences may be made at: www.rbfh.net.