Merced Sun Star
Friday, April 7, 2000
Katherine Powers Holman
Katherine Powers Holman of Atwater passed away on April 3 at the age of 85. She
was born on June 27, 1914, in Stockton, California to Harley and Leota Powers
and grew up in the Winedot area of Lodi. She graduated from Lodi High School,
Modesto Junior College, and was a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of the University of
Pacific. Katherine worked as a social worker in both San Joaquin and Stanislaus
Counties before marrying Harold Baker Holman, Jr., on September 3, 1938.
As a resident of Atwater since 1943, Katherine and her husband owned and
operated the Atwater Stationers Store during the 1950's. Both she and her
husband were active members of the Atwater Community, starting what later became
the Base Community Council, an important community/government partnership
between the local community and the U.S. Air Force. Katherine taught grade first
grade in Atwater for 20 years, first at Mitchell School and then for 18 years at
Elmer Wood School. She was also a loving mother, gracious homemaker and an
elegant lady.
Katherine was a fifty-plus year member of the Atwater Women's Club, member of
the Fruitland Club, Sharon Temple # 92 Daughters of the Nile, charter member of
the Merced River Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, member of
the Merced / Mariposa Retired Teachers Association, American Association of
University Women, and the Merced Antique Study Group. An avid card player,
Katherine played bridge with the same group of ladies for forty-five years.
Katherine was preceded in death by her husband of 61 years, when Harold passed
away in January of this year. she was the beloved mother of her son and
daughter-in-law, Harold and Carol Hoyman of Atwater, her daughter and
son-in-law, Marilyn and Fred Abbott of Houston, Texas, and her daughter, Janet
Howard of Atwater. she was adored grandmother of Stephen Howard of Merced, Mark
Holman of Atwater, Cecilia Abbott of Dallas, Texas, Sabrina Abbott of College
Station, Texas, and Kathy Howard Davis and her husband, Gavin Davis of Merced,
as well as Abigail Elizabeth Davis, her great-granddaughter. she also survived
by four nephews, one niece and her brother-in-law, Robert Holman of Merced along
with many friends and former students.
Memories will be cherished by her family and friends, who are invited to attend
a memorial service at the Atwater United Methodist Church, on the corner of
Bellevue and Linden in Atwater, on Saturday, April 8, 2000, at 2:00 p.m.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Harold and Katherine Holman Atwater
High School Athletic Scholarship Fund.