Lee C. Holler, (SGM, US Army, Ret.)

Lee Crisman Holler, Jr., 80, of Stephenson, Virginia, passed away Tuesday, January 26, 2010, at his home.

Mr. Holler was born in 1929, in Winchester, Virginia, the son of the late Lee C. and Mary E. Holler, Sr. He married Dee Turner on November 9th, 1991 in Winchester, Virginia. His first wife, Erika Sevket-Amileri, preceded him in death on February 14, 1985. Surviving with his wife are two daughters, Sister Judy Holler, SSCM of Bluffton, South Carolina, Kathy Kerns and husband Russell (Tater) Kerns, and grandchildren Logan and Felicity Eiland, step-grandchildren Amanda, Megan and Chase Kerns of Winchester, and his sister Ann Slother of Randallstown, Maryland.

Lee retired from the military after serving 30+ years in the Army retiring at the rank of Command Sergeant Major having served in WWII, Korea and Vietnam. Lee finished his military career with the Virginia National Guard station in Winchester.

Mr. Holler’s public service as a firefighter within the community began in 1944 as a volunteer with the Friendship Volunteer Fire Company. In 1955 he became a career engineer (Driver/Operator) with the City of Winchester serving at South End Volunteer Fire Company. In 1962 he left the City of Winchester to begin work at Washington Dulles International Airport where he served until 1975 reaching the rank of Lieutenant in 1975. He left Dulles to become Fire Chief of the Veterans Administration Medical Center in Martinsburg, West Virginia. Lee left the VA and returned to Dulles as an Assistant Chief/Shift Commander in 1980 and finished his career retiring from the department in 1984. During this time frame Mr. Holler served in various leadership roles within the volunteer fire service community. Lee was the Volunteer Chief of Friendship Volunteer Fire Company in 1963. In 1965 he joined Shawnee Volunteer Fire Company in which he served as President during the transition period from a Frederick County fire department to a City of Winchester department in 1970. He served as Volunteer Fire Chief from 1973 to 1988 and returned to be President from 1992-1994. In 1995, Lee was presented a Life Membership of Shawnee Volunteer Fire Department. Lee retired from being an active firefighter in 1995, in which he was recognized for 50 years of consecutive service in the City of Winchester. In 2003 Lee became a member of the Clearbrook Volunteer Fire Company where he served as the station’s Fire Safety Officer, Executive Board Member, member of the Department’s Auxiliary, and served as the Station’s Executive Grant Writer. Lee was presented with an Honorary Life Membership of Clearbrook Volunteer Fire Department in 2009. Mr. Holler served other fire service agencies and public organizations. He served as president of the Cumberland Valley Firefighters Association (1999-2000), President of the Winchester Volunteer Firefighters Association, 40 years of service with Shenandoah Apple Blossom Festival serving as the Director of the Firefighter’s Parade (1979-1980,1991-1992), and served as President of the Winchester/Frederick County Radio Club (1965,1967, 1971-1973). Mr. Holler represented many State and Federal Firefighter Associations: Virginia State Fire Chiefs, International Association Fire Chiefs, Virginia Fireman’s Association and the Northern Virginia Fireman’s Association. Lee served as a Federal Grant reviewer for the National Firefighter’s Assistance Act with the National Fire Academy. Mr. Holler was a member of the Loyal Order of Moose, the Stonewall Ruritans Club, Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2123, American Legion Post 21, Korean War Veterans and a member of the Emmanuel United Methodist Church in Stephenson, Virginia.

Lee Holler will be greatly missed by all of those who have been involved with and influenced by his presence.

A memorial service will be conducted on Friday, at 10:00 AM, at Shawnee Fire Department, 2210 Valor Dr., Winchester, Virginia and ending at Clearbrook Fire Department, 1256 Brucetown Rd. 22624 Clearbrook, Virginia with Reverend James M. Smith officiating. Interment will be private.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Clearbrook Volunteer Fire and Rescue Department, P.O. Box 56, Clearbrook, Virginia 22624.

Please sign the guestbook and view obituaries at www.ompsfuneralhome.com