Aileen S. Holliday

In 1945, when Aileen was 13 years old, her parents moved the family to Dayton, Ohio, drawn by the opportunities created by the rapid growth of Wright-Patterson Air Force Base and the economic expansion it brought to the region. Aileen graduated from Roosevelt High School and remained in Dayton, where she built a life centered on family, faith, and community. In 1952, she married Paul Wydman Holliday, beginning a lifelong partnership.

Aileen and Paul later made their home in Beavercreek, where she lived for the rest of her life.

Aileen is lovingly remembered by her daughter, Lynn Holliday Stanley; her son, Steven Holliday, his wife Jayne, and their daughter Laura; her sisters, Oleda Johnson and Rosalie Dunn; her brother, Hughie Sprinkle; and her adopted daughter, DoriAnn Allen.

From 1973 to 1993, Aileen served as a civil servant at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. While she took pride in her work, the true center of her life was her family, her faith, and the simple beauty found in nature. She had a deep desire to live a Christ-like life and was known for her quiet kindness, steady faith, gentle spirit and strength in the face of challenges.

Aileen found great joy in gardening and especially in the art of bonsai. In 1969, the same year she became a devoted member of Be Hope Church (formerly Beavercreek Church of the Nazarene), she also discovered her love for bonsai and joined the Dayton Bonsai Society. She remained an active and longtime member, attending meetings at Cox Arboretum and sharing her appreciation for the patience and beauty the art requires.

She also found great happiness in the simple moments at home, often spending time watching the birds and wildlife that visited her backyard. She was an avid reader and lifelong learner who appreciated the quiet beauty of the world around her.

Those who knew Aileen will remember her for her love of family, her steadfast faith, and the quiet joy she found in nature. She also had a bit of feisty determination that showed her strength and spirit, something those who loved her will always remember with a smile.

The seeds of love Aileen planted in so many lives will continue to grow -

A short service for family and friends will be held on March 20 at 11:00 a.m. at Be Hope Church, 1850 N. Fairfield Road, Beavercreek, Ohio 45432.