Donna Marie Holman

Donna Marie Holman passed away at her home with her husband Ronald, her soul partner of 61 years, at her side on February 10th, 2025. Born in Columbus, Ohio, she was the only child of the late Maurice Donald Walters and Evelyn Fox Walters. Donna was a graduate of North High School in Columbus. She was also a graduate of Ohio Wesleyan University with a degree in education. At Ohio Wesleyan, she was an active member of the Delta Gamma sorority. Ron and Donna were married at First Community Church in Columbus, Ohio on June 1, 1963 where they were active members.

She was a devoted spouse to her husband and constant companion, loving mother and grandmother to nine grandchildren. There were annual trips to Florida and Disney with her children and later her grandchildren. She would guide all grandchildren into projects and crafts with the skill of a professional teacher. For the grandchildren’s birthdays, she would create books that documented their previous year and provided great memories of all their events and accomplishments. These would be filled with the many pictures that she took while “just trying to finish her current roll of film”. Easters were an organized chaos of egg hunts, making sure the treasures were shared out equally after the games were over. Christmases would often involve a revolving door of grandchildren taking turns to help bake cookies and open presents. Christmas would often spill over into a week of presents and baking that the grandkids lovingly called ‘Nonnaka’.

Besides her family, teaching was her life. She spent the majority of her career teaching generations of elementary school children in the Upper Arlington school system. She had a love of reading that she shared with her students and family. She was awarded a Golden Apple award in 1986 for teaching excellence. Even after retirement, they were unable to keep her out of the classroom as most of her time revolved around the school year and she would substitute as much as they would allow her.

The family would like to thank the Physical Therapy and Occupational Therapy students from Ohio State and the Visiting Angels whose love, help and support in assisting with her care was invaluable.

Donna is survived by Ron, her husband of 61 years: her sons Dana (Hillary), Craig (Amy) and Todd (Lara): her grandchildren Katie, Charlie, Jack, Nicole, Gillian, Audrey, Evelyn, Drew and Lindsay. Calling hours with the family will take place from 1:00pm-4:00pm on Sunday, March 2nd, 2025 at SCHOEDINGER NORHTWEST, 1740 Zollinger Road, Columbus, Ohio 43221.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you donate to your favorite charity and remember Donna as you do so.