Robert Emerson Holey, 86, died February 9, in Black Mountain, N.C. He was born in Toledo, Ohio, March 23, 1927, to Nina May (Sweeny) and Ralph Emerson Holey.

Mr Holey was a resident of Newtown while working as general manager for Eagle Pencil, a division of Berol Corporation, in Danbury in the late 1970s.

He served in the US Navy in the Pacific from May 1945 to July 1946. He received a bachelor of science in mechanical engineering from the University of Toledo in 1950, and started his professional career with Micro Switch (a division of Honeywell Corporation). Married to Betty Jean Smith in 1948, they raised their family in Freeport, Ill. They moved to Newtown and after three years in Connecticut, Mr Holey returned to Freeport and Micro Switch in 1976. In 1980 he transferred to the Micro Switch facility in Mars Hill, N.C., and retired in 1992.

Mr Holey was a loving and caring husband, father, grandfather, and friend.

He was a prominent softball pitcher for Micro Switch in the Freeport city league, and an accomplished wood worker, golfer, and bowler. His children fondly recall when Mr Holey would sit down to the piano and play his favorite tunes, and his unique way of telling a story, whether funny or not.

He gave generously of his time and was an active in the Freeport Little League, Indian Guides, the Masonic Temple in Freeport, Kiwanis Club, Asheville Area Habitat for Humanity, and served on the board of Mission Hospital in Asheville. He was a faithful and dedicated member of his church families at Embury United Methodist in Freeport, Ill., Newtown United Methodist in Newtown, and St Paul’s United Methodist in Asheville.

His wife of 66 years; children, John, of Lafayette, Calif., Mark, and his wife Michaela, of Sturgeon Bay, Wis., and Carole Fogal of Asheville, N.C.; seven beloved grandchildren; and brother, Richard, survive Mr Holey. He is preceded in death by his parents and brother Ronald.

A memorial service will take place at 11 am, Saturday, April 5, at St Paul United Methodist Church, 223 Hillside Street, Asheville. A reception will follow in the church fellowship hall.

In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made to the Asheville Area Habitat for Humanity, 33 Meadow Road, Asheville NC 28803, or at ashevillehabitat.org.

Online condolences may be made at morrisfamilyfuneralhome.com.