James Howard Holloway, ‘Jim’, born on September 11, 1933, in Traphill, North Carolina, passed from this life on August 3, 2023, at his home in Elkin.
Jim attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he received both his undergraduate and doctoral degrees in Chemistry. He liked to tell how, during his first college semester, he received a C in undergraduate chemistry– a shock to a young man who had been top of the class in high school. Upset and determined, he set about to disprove his professor’s assumptions that he would not make it through the course. The results were not only stellar subsequent course grades, but a long, successful career in Nuclear Chemistry.
After earning his doctorate, Jim served honorably in the United States Air Force, with assignments in Libya, Japan, and Korea, as well as closer to home at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory. There, he served across the Air Force’s pivotal shift from building nuclear powered aircraft systems to developing nuclear rocket engines and ramjet projects for the nascent space age, a crucial moment during which Jim’s contributions furthered both military and civilian nuclear power operations.
Retiring from the service at the rank of captain, Jim’s love of North Carolina brought him home to work for Celanese in Charlotte for two years. A career opportunity to join the nation’s developing nuclear reactor system, however, led him to General Electric’s California laboratories in Vallecitos-Livermore. There, working in tandem with scientists at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratories, Jim was a pivotal contributor in developing, evaluating, and reporting on the safety, function, and efficiency of the nation’s nuclear power plant systems.
Jim then parlayed experiences gained from his years in the field to open his own companies, first Radiological and Chemical Technology (RCT) and then Ultrapure Water Technology. These companies helped pioneer the commercialization of water purification, tailored to exacting standards for uses that now range from power generation to pharmaceuticals. In 1979, when the Unit 2 reactor at Three Mile Island experienced a partial meltdown, Jim was called, and three decades later, after an earthquake and tsunami-precipitated disaster at Fukushima’s nuclear power plant, Japan called Jim. His was a long and storied career.
A lifelong lover of learning in action, Jim never believed in retirement. During what might have been seized upon by others as a time for rest and relaxation, he returned to his roots, actively invested in the stock market and entrepreneurship – and continued to avidly demonstrate his lifelong devotion to the Tar Heels. He soon joined the Roaring Gap Baptist Church, which he served faithfully as an active member across the closing decades of his life. Jim loved the Lord, read the Word daily, and was quick to give God the praise for all the blessings of his life.
Jim was preceded in death by his grandparents, James Floyd and Silviria Casey Holloway, his parents, John and Minnie Jane (Janie) Armes, brother John Calvin Armes (Pete), former spouses Anne Menelle Miller Holloway and Marjorie Davis Holloway, and two beloved children, his daughter Deborah Lynne Holloway and infant son Thomas Holloway. Survivors include his loving wife, Gayle Holloway of Elkin; daughters Patricia Holloway Prim (Randy) of State Road, Sharon Holloway Benyola (Anthony) of Spokane, Washington, and Angela Holloway Marcus (Miles) of Jackson, Mississippi; step-children Thomas Allen Sanders, Jr. (Peggy) of Birmingham, Alabama, Jo Anne Fordham Adkins (Michael), of Vicksburg, Mississippi, Richard Acuff (Jacqueline) of Robstown, Texas, Linda Acuff Barrowman of Rogers, Arkansas, and three beloved grandchildren, Stephanie Prim Minton (Logan), Samuel Holloway Marcus, and Patrick Lee Marcus, as well as much loved great-granddaughter, Caroline Anne Minton; beloved step-grandchildren Kim Thurman, Jason Barrowman, Brian Acuff, Amy Acuff, Col Stephen Sanders retired, Stephanie Sanders Thomas, Nahede Khosravi, Jessica Benyola San Miguel, Jamie Benyola, Ashley Benyola, Nick Benyola, and great-grandchildren; sister Sylvia Boles (Mike) and brother Bobby Dean (Joe) Armes….plus multiple nieces and nephews. Special cousins include Kathy Moffett and her son Andy, Dennis and Janice McGrady, as well as dear friends Zen and Mitsi Yamamoto, Priscilla Gueco-Torres, Bobby and Dana Carter.
Jim will lie-in-state Saturday, August 19, 2023 from 2:00pm – 6:00pm at Elkin Funeral Service. The funeral service will commence at 2:00 pm on Sunday, August 20, 2023 at Roaring Gap Baptist Church, Thurmond, North Carolina, with the Reverend Richard Hackler officiating. Interment will follow in the church cemetery.
The family would like to thank a special caregiver, Debbie Long. They also send their appreciation to the staff of Mountain Valley Hospice: Debbie Ford, Sonya Lovette, Ramona Pardue, Angela Bradshaw, Angela McCoy, Mandi Call, Lynda Givvs, Carlie Silvers, Makayla Faw, Elizabeth Barker, Charlene Holyfield and Dixie Cave for their kindness and support during these last few weeks.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be made to Roaring Gap Baptist Church Cemetery Fund, 267 Roaring Gap Church Road, Thurmond, North Carolina.
Saturday, August 19, 2023
2:00 - 6:00 pm (Eastern time)
Elkin Funeral Service
Sunday, August 20, 2023
Starts at 2:00 pm (Eastern time)
Roaring Gap Baptist Church
Sunday, August 20, 2023
Roaring Gap Baptist Church Cemetery
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