Carl E. Holt

Carl E. Holt, Sr., 88, of Tecumseh passed from this life Monday, June 5, 2023 at 9:34 a.m. in the care of hospice at Belfair Shawnee Memory Care Center.

He was born January 27, 1935, to J.W. “Bill” and Lavinia (Danner) Holt in Shawnee, Oklahoma.

Carl was raised in Shawnee and attended Franklin Elementary, Shawnee Junior High and graduated mid-term from Shawnee High School with the class of 1953. 

After graduating mid-term, he joined the U.S. Air Force and proudly served his country for 21 years before retiring in 1974.  He served in Texas, Oklahoma, Utah, Southeast Asia (Thailand), and Tooley Greenland.  He served on Albatross in Air Sea Rescue as crew chief on the A-1 Sky Raiders in Greenland and during the Vietnam War and was stationed at Labranes Hill Air Force Base, as load master on the C-124 Plane. He also served at Phenom Tai Air Force Base in Thailand, Altus Air Force Base in Oklahoma, and the last four years of his enlistment he served as Air Force Recruiter in Utah.

After his retirement from the military he returned to Shawnee, Oklahoma where he entered a  career of banking and sports officiating mainly in football for Junior High, High School, and College sports.  Carl’s expertise led him halfway around the world when he was chosen to officiate the Downunder Games in Brisbane, Australia in 1986.  Russia sent a team to Oklahoma City and Carl was asked to monitor that game with “The Russian Bears.”  He obtained his private pilot license, bought a Cessna plane and enjoyed trips to Utah to see family.

Carl was a member of the Highland Church of Christ in Tecumseh, Oklahoma.

He married Ruby D. Deatherage Skillings on March 30, 1985, in Shawnee, Oklahoma.

At the age of 13 he became interested in how the movies put the picture out and learned to work the projector side of the movies and remained employed with the Jones Family part-time for several years.

He was preceded in death by his parents, J.W. “Bill” and Lavinia Holt; 2 brothers, and 2 sisters-in-law, Don and Norma Holt and Jack and Pat Holt; 1 sister, Mariella Holt-Russell nephew, Ricky Holt; and niece, Becky Snider.

Those left to cherish his memory are his wife, Ruby D. Holt of the home; 5 sons and 5 daughters-in-law, Dr. Carl and Kim Holt of Vincennes, IN, David and Beth Holt of Willard, UT, Chuck and Jeanie Skillings of Shawnee, OK, Ben and Rhonda Skillings of New Brunswick, GA and Chris and Debbie Skillings of Shawnee, OK; 17 grandchildren; numerous great-grandchildren; and many loving friends and extended family.

The family has requested memorial contributions be made to Wisconsin Avenue Church of Christ, 508 Wisconsin Avenue SW, Huron, SD  57350 in lieu of flowers.

Visitation will be from 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., Friday, June 9, 2023 with family gathering to greet friends and family from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at Cooper Funeral Home.  Service will be 10:00 a.m., Saturday, June 10, 2023 at Highland Church of Christ in Tecumseh with Michael Kelsey officiating. Burial will follow at Fairview Cemetery Pavilion in Shawnee under the direction of Cooper Funeral Home of Tecumseh.