Stanley P. Holloway, 87, Pullman

Stanley P. Holloway passed away Thursday, April 5, 2007, in Pullman.

Stan was born on a southern Idaho homestead near Roy, Idaho, on Nov. 7, 1919, to Clyde S. and Leda P. Holloway. He learned at an early age the importance of family, friendship and hard work. It was a hard life on the homestead, and to help make ends meet, Stan's mother, Leda, accepted teaching positions at different schools in Idaho, and Stan, his older sister, Calla and two younger brothers, Waldon and Norman would attend those schools. As the new kid in school, Stan always had to flatten a nose or two before being accepted by the other students. Finally the family left the homestead and Stan graduated from high school in Dallas, Ore. From there he attended Linfield College in McMinnville, Ore., for one year.

When Pearl Harbor was bombed on Dec. 7, 1941, signaling the beginning of World War II for the United States, Stan signed up with the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve, 2nd Marine Division. His battalion, later called "The Forgotten Battalion," stormed the beaches and fought the battles of Tulagi, Guadalcanal, Tarawa, Saipan, Guam and Iwo Jima. After almost four years of combat, of the original 500-plus Marines in the battalion, only 17 remained.

There was one bright spot during those four years. Between the battles of Guadalcanal and Tarawa the Marines rested in New Zealand, where Stan met the love of his life, Margaret Stewart. The story of those years is recounted in a book published in 2005, written by his son, Clyde Holloway, entitled "Pacific War Marine."

After the war, Margaret traveled from New Zealand to marry Stan in a little church in Amity, Ore. The young couple settled in Farmington, Wash., to farm and raise a family of two girls, Dorothy and Anne, and two boys, Clyde and David. In 1970, the Holloways left farming and Stan went to work at Washington State University as a physical plant stores clerk. He retired from there in 1985.

Stan enjoyed life, every moment of it. Some of his favorite things included gathering with friends and family, beach combing, reading, memorizing and reciting poetry (Edgar A. Guest was his favorite), gardening, and playing cards (bridge, pinochle, blackjack). He always looked forward to yearly reunions of The Forgotten Battalion, and he was a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars. Stan also enjoyed being an active member of the Pullman Senior Center.

Stan was a sweet boy. He remained that way his entire life. Despite living through all the violence of WWII, he was always a gentle, kind and peaceful man. To those who knew him, probably the most descriptive word that epitomized Stan Holloway is "gentleman."

Surviving Stan Holloway are his wife, Margaret D. Holloway; daughters, Dorothy Nilles of Leavenworth, Wash., and Anne Kannegaard of Troy; sons, Clyde Holloway of Vancouver, Wash., and David Holloway of Oak Grove, Ore. Other family includes nine grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. Stanley was the last remaining of his siblings. Many will miss him; many more are deeply affected by what Stanley P. Holloway has done in his lifetime.

A memorial service will be conducted at 1 p.m. Tuesday, April 10, at the Quality Inn-Paradise Creek, 1400 S.E. Bishop Blvd. in Pullman. Kimball Funeral Home in Pullman is caring for the family.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Salvation Army or to the Pullman Senior Center.