Gerald Norin Holman

Gerald Norin Holman passed quietly Saturday evening, February 24, 2018, in his home surrounded by family. He willed himself to remain on this earth until his sweetheart and companion of exactly 61 years, Bonnie, had been laid to rest earlier that day. Jerry battled advanced stages of Parkinson's Disease and other issues incident to aging. He was 92.

Jerry was born in Silverton, Oregon August 7, 1925. As a young boy he lived for a short time in Bend, Oregon but spent most of his years in Salem. As a youth he enjoyed playing baseball. He became an acclaimed pitcher. His favorite catcher was Allan Schwartz who would later become his brother-in-law. It was playing baseball outside Highland Elementary school where, at the age of 10 he first met five-year-old Bonnie.

On his eighteenth birthday (1943) he enlisted in the US Army and shipped out the next day. He earned a commission to West Point while in Basic Training but declined it (the first of 3 such offers he would decline) out of a sense of duty to get on the battlefield. He was deployed to the 3rd Army Division and served as General George Patton's Artillery Direction Commander.

He was employed by the State of Oregon originally with the highway department but spent most of his years with the Water Resources Division as a cartographer where he worked until he retired.

On February 21, 1957 he married Bonnie. They lived in the same home in northeast Salem for 60 years. For most of his life he was a serious philatelist. He enjoyed HAM Radio and at one point had collected call cards from every country and from every county in every US state. He was a student of history, biblical scholar, theologian and author. He was an avid Portland Trailblazer fan and enjoyed watching games with his brother Gordon.

Jerry was preceded in death by his wife Bonnie; sister, Donna Hough and grandson Jason Long. He is survived by his sister Lorelei Clark and her husband Bob, brother Gordon Holman and his wife Alyce, daughters Sandra Holman and Sheri Long, 11 grandchildren and 12 great grandchildren.

Interment is at Belcrest Memorial Park at 10:00 AM Wednesday February, 28 and a memorial service is being held at noon that same afternoon at Holy Cross Lutheran Church, 1998 Lansing Ave. NE.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Jason Long Foundation: 149 N 980 E Lindon Utah 84042

Arrangements are being handled by Howell-Edwards-Doerksen with Rigdon-Ransom.