On Friday, February 17, 2023, Colonel Stephen (Steve) Ray Holt, USAF (Ret.), loving husband and father of three children, nine grandchildren and three great grandchildren slipped the surly bonds of Earth at the age of 84, at Cardinal Village in Fredericksburg with his wife Patti at his side.

Col Holt was born on July 15, 1938, in Seattle, Washington, the youngest of four children of Allen and Marie Holt.  He graduated from the US Air Force Academy on June 8, 1960, and married, Mary Ann (nee) O’Hara, the next day.  Col Holt graduated from flight school in September 1961 and had tours of duty at Tinker Air Force Base (AFB), Travis AFB, Tachikawa AFB, Scott AFB, Dyess AFB, Sembach AFB, the Pentagon, North Atlantic Treaty Organization, Brussels Belgium, and Malmstrom AFB.  For 30 years, Col Holt and family traveled around the world, enjoying a wide range of cultures, and taking advantage of the opportunities provided during a military career.  Col Holt was a veteran of the Vietnam war and was stationed at Da Nang Airfield.

Col Holt retired from the Air Force on July 31, 1989, and with Mary Ann moved to Milford, VA to be near their grandchildren.  Annually, Steve would bring the family together so he could spend more focused time with all and teach the grandchildren to fish, spend time camping, and playing games such as Wahoo, Rummy and Oh Hell.  He enjoyed the many hours around the table playing these games and instilling a sense of competition into the grandchildren.

After Mary Ann passed (January 2008), Steve met Patricia Kraus, having learned that each had a deep passion for airplanes and flying.  They were married November 21, 2009, in Stafford, Va. Steve joined Patti as a life member of the Capital Wing of the Commemorative Air Force at Culpeper Airport, an organization whose mission is to educate, inspire and honor through flight and living history, with an emphasis on the restoration and flying of WWII aircraft. They ran the Wing’s “PX”, and traveled throughout the East, supporting the Wing at airshows displaying their three WWII era aircraft, a TBM Avenger “Doris Mae”, a BT-13 “Tuskegee Trainer” and a L-5 liaison aircraft. They enjoyed traveling and hiking as well as planting and raising a garden every year. Steve also enjoyed fishing and collecting coins and shared his knowledge as a charter member of the Rappahannock Area Coin Club where he was a contributor for many years.

Steve is predeceased by his first wife, Mary Ann, his parents Allen and Marie Holt, his sister Donna Holt Hall, and his brother Richard Holt. He  is survived by his wife, Patti; his brother Carl Holt, his sons Mark and his wife Micki (Wolf); Kevin and his wife Natalie (Hudson), and his daughter Julie and her husband Bill Smiley and nine grandchildren, Tucker Holt and his wife Lisa (Siebke), Lucas Holt, Jillian Holt, Lindsay and her husband Jay Lapointe, Hudson Holt, Kylie Holt, Samantha (Michalick) and her husband Josh Horn, Nicole Michalick, and Brian Michalick, and three great grandchildren Brooks Holt, Lucy Lapointe, and Althea Horn.

A visitation will be held at the Bowling Green Chapel of Storke Funeral Home on Sunday, February 26, 2023 from 2-4pm. Col Holt will be laid to rest in the Culpeper National Cemetery on Monday, February 27 at 1pm.  Rest in peace, Col Holt.  Your faithful service to your family and country are enduring.  Put out your hand and touch the face of God.

A Celebration of Life will be held at the CAF Hangar at the Culpeper Airport (12517 Beverly Road, Brandy Station) immediately after. The hangar might be cold, dress appropriately.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Capital Wing of the Commemorative Air Force, in care of Dave Wood Finance Officer, Capital Wing/ CAF, 560 S Nursery Ave, Purcellville, VA 20132.