Mr. Robert Emerson Holey

Robert Emerson Holey passed away on February 9, 2014 in Black Mountain, North Carolina at the age of 86. Born in Toledo, Ohio on March 23, 1927 to parents Ralph Emerson and Nina May (Sweeny) Holey, Bob was the oldest of three boys. After graduating from Whitmer High School in Toledo, Ohio in 1945, he served in the U.S. 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. Bob married Betty Joan Smith of Toledo, Ohio at Trilby Methodist Church on August 21, 1948 and started his professional career with Micro Switch (a division of Honeywell Corporation) after he and Betty moved to Freeport, Illinois in 1952. They started their family shortly after and raised their three children, John Edward (1953), Mark Emerson (1954), and Carole Jean (1961) in Freeport. In 1970, Bob was hired by American Pencil Sharpener Company (APSCO) in Rockford, Illinois. In 1973, when APSCO was purchased by the Eagle Pencil (a division of Berol Corporation) Bob and Betty moved to Danbury, Connecticut, where Bob became General Manager. After three years in Connecticut, Bob returned to Freeport and Micro Switch in 1976. In 1980, in anticipation of retirement, Bob transferred to the Micro Switch facility in Mars Hill, North Carolina, to become the Location Manager. Bob retired in 1992 after a 34-year career with Micro Switch. Bob and Betty have lived in the Asheville area since 1980. Bob was a loving and caring husband, father, grandfather and friend. A man of many talents, Bob played varsity baseball all four years of high school and was a prominent softball pitcher for Micro Switch in the Freeport city league, in addition to being an accomplished wood worker, golfer and bowler. His children fondly remember Sunday afternoons and after family meals when Bob would sit down to the piano and play his favorite tunes, and his unique way of telling a story, whether funny or not. Bob gave generously of his time and was an active participant in organizations such as Freeport Little League (“best coach ever”), 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, Illinois; Newton United Methodist in Newtown, Connecticut; and St. Paul’s United Methodist in Asheville; serving as choir member, in leadership roles on committees, and drove the bus at St. Paul’s to insure that transportation did not prevent anyone from attending church service. Bob is survived by his wife of 66 years Betty of Black Mountain, North Carolina, sons, John, Lafayette, California; Mark (Michaela), Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin; and daughter Carole Fogal, Asheville, North Carolina; beloved grandchildren Dr. Chelsea Leigh-Anne Fogal (Adam Cotton), Kenosha, Wisconsin; Andrew Fogal, Asheville; Abigail Fogal, Asheville; Michael Holey, Sturgeon Bay; Oliver Holey, Sturgeon Bay; Alexandra Holey, Oakland, California; and Austin Holey (Kristina Feldman), Paris, France; and brother Richard Holey, Lambertville, Michigan. He is preceded in death by his parents and brother Ronald Holey. A memorial service to celebrate his life will be held 11:00 AM, Saturday, April 5, 2014 at St. Paul's United Methodist Church, 223 Hillside Street, Asheville, North Carolina. A reception will immediately follow in the church fellowship Hall. In lieu of flowers or gifts, the family requests a donation in memory of Bob Holey to the Asheville Area Habitat for Humanity, 33 Meadow Rd, Asheville, NC 28803, (828) 251-5702, www.ashevillehabitat.org.

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Mr. Robert Emerson Holey

March 23, 1927 - February 9, 2014