William "Bill" Holton

AND WWII VETERAN, DIES AT 93

William Kendrick Holton died at his home in Brookhaven on Monday January 11th at the age of 93. He was born in Charlotte N.C., but came to live in Atlanta as a young boy. He grew up on 3325 Peachtree Rd. in a house that was located where the Intercontinental Hotel now sits. Mr. Holton attended North Fulton High School where he was a Drum Major and a successful track and field participant. Shortly after graduation he was inducted into the Army during WWII. He later entered the Army Air Force, being trained as a gunner. He completed 4 years of service, of which he was very proud.

Mr. Holton was also proud to be among the 1st group of “Buckhead Boys”. He counted among his friends the former Chief Justice of the Georgia Supreme Court and Georgia Congressman Charles Weltner. He was also a long time member of the “After Hours” single’s club and met his 2nd wife Lou Rita Keehn at one of their functions. They were together for the past 15 years and have been active with many local functions. Mr. Holton conducted “The King Cotton March” with the DeKalb Symphony Orchestra as a part of a charitable event several years ago, demonstrating his ability developed as a Drum Major at North Fulton High.

In the late 1960’s Mr. Holton, as the owner of the Commercial Real Estate Company, “Bill Holton Real Estate” was the broker for the land acquisition and leasing of the Williamsburg Village Shopping Center and apartments. The development is still located at the corner of Clairmont Rd. and Briarcliff Rd. in DeKalb County.

Mr. Holton and his wife the former Lou Rita Keehn spent many a Friday night at McKinnon’s Restaurant and Piano Bar where he and his wife were part of a recent documentary about senior’s activities in Atlanta. They were featured singers in Cabarets, which are put on periodically at that location.

Among his notable ancestors are,, his maternal grandfather, George Washington Moore, Mr. Moore along with George V. Gress produced one of the first patented Jukeboxes. His Great, Great Grandfather, Thomas Jefferson Holton, signed the original Charlotte N.C. charter and started the 1st newspaper there, “The Miners’ and Farmers’ Journal”, published from 1830-1835 and then the name changed to the “Charlotte Journal” and finally to the “Charlotte Whig”. Mr. Holton’s grandmother Rachel Regina Jones Holton took over upon his death in 1860 making her one of the 1st female newspaper editors in the country. His father, Gilmer Herriott Holton, was a member of the “Son’s of the American Revolution”.

Mr. Holton is survived by his wife Lou and four children; Mrs. Barbara Bermingham, Mrs. Donna New, Mr. Carl Holton and Mr. Steve Holton. He also was blessed with 7 grandchildren.

Services will take place at H.M. Patterson and Sons at 4550 Peachtree Rd. in Brookhaven on Saturday January 16th at 2pm. The family will receive guests starting a 1pm.