Hollis Edward Crowe peacefully expired on January 29, 2022, at his home in Martinsville, Virginia in the care of his wife, Grace. Hollis was born on February 22, 1933, in Westbrook, Maine, of parents Arthur and Louisa Oakey Crowe. He served in the United States Army and was a veteran of the Korean War.
Hollis graduated from the University of Maine in Bangor with a degree in engineering. He was hired by DuPont, and sent to work at DuPont plants in New Jersey, Texas and South Carolina before moving to Martinsville with Rochelle and their six children. They became members of St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, and he was a member of the Knights of Columbus. He made some great friends at DuPont from around the world, and was close to his office mates. He worked there until he retired.
Actively engaged in community service throughout his lifetime, Hollis served as an Election Official for the City of Martinsville, a crisis counselor for Contact, and performed in a local barbershop quartet. After retirement from DuPont, he opened and operated Holly’s Auto Sales. He set up the “Po Boys Flea Market” with his good friend Pat Goodnow and he invested in a few rental properties.
Shortly before Rochelle died, Hollis began studying to become one of Jehovah’s Witnesses. He later married Terri Lisa Lake, who had two sons, Adam and Casey Holodick. She has remarried.
He converted to the Jehovah’s Witness faith and served as a Pioneer in outreach ministry. Some of his best friends were Witnesses, among them Jimmy and Deborah Lovell, Dora and Mac Tarpley, Joy and Ernie Beggarly, Payton Walker and his family, and Jeff and Marie Corbett. He met Grace at a Jehovah’s Witness convention and they were married in that faith. To help build new Kingdom Halls with his daughter Deedee, he went to night school to become certified as a brick mason.
Hollis is survived by his wife of twenty years, the former Grace Ordewald and her three sons Christian Ordewald (Dinah, deceased), their son David and his family; Robert Ordewald (Carol), their son Daniel and his family; Matthew Ordewald (Christine), their daughter Michaela and her family. Her sons live in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia.
Hollis was preceded in death by his first wife, Rochelle Jean Ricard and a son, Albert George Crowe. Hollis and Rochelle are survived by five children, Pam Herold (John) of Hendersonville TN, Ed (Karen) of Phoenix AZ, Lynn Pritchett (Ashby) of Martinsville VA, DeeDee Hamby (Ron) of Collinsville VA and Angela Bourland of Bassett VA. He has eleven grandchildren, ten great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild.
Grandchildren David Herold, Laura Simon (Brock), John Herold (Nichole); Kelly Crowe Maser (Al), Hollis ‘Ted’ Edward Crowe III, David Allen Crowe and Katlynn Crowe; Brian Pritchett (Jessica) of Summerville SC, Mandy Muse (Arthur ‘Buck’) of Martinsville VA and Elizabeth Pritchett of Richmond VA; Charles ‘Chaz’ Moore of Columbia Falls, Montana, and Angela’s stepsons, Matt and Bryce Bourland. Great-grandchildren are Lauren Seedlock, Adelyn, Ayla and Brex Simon, and Henry Herold; Eden and Graham Pritchett; Kisean and Raven Adams and Gavin Muse; Kaven Adams is a great-great-grandson.
He was predeceased by his sister Shirley (Bill) Hein of California and his brothers Arthur Crowe of Sebago Lake ME; Robert Crowe of Burbank CA, and Albert Crowe of Maine; and Paul and Barbara Ricard of Darby MT. Other surviving family members are his sister-in-law Anita Crowe of Sebago Lake and her children, Allen Crowe (Diane), Kathy Davis, and Shirley Brown; Rochelle’s two sisters, Lorette Ricard Grant of East Waterboro ME and her children (Shelly, Toni, Shane, Sean, and Mark) and Paulette (Gerald) Ricard of New York City. Several other nieces, nephews and relatives from the Crowe and Ricard families from Maine survive. Among them are Betty MacDonald Gregory of Ridgeway, VA and her children, Tim, Dawn, Lisa and Susan; Belinda, Stuart, Billy and Darrell Hein; and Teresa Crowe Palmer of Fort Collins CO, Robert B Crowe II and Daniel G Crowe.
The family is grateful for the loving professional nursing care provided by Margaret Barrett. She was a comfort to him, his wife, and children. Hospice care was provided by Promedica.
Arrangements are being made by Wright Funeral Service. A Jehovah Witness memorial service will be held via Zoom on Sunday, February 6, 2022, at 3:00 PM. Brother Lynnwood Turner will officiate. Everyone is welcome. Participants can log into Zoom and access Meeting ID: 565 415 673. Passcode:1914.
Wright Funeral Service & Crematory is serving the family. Online condolences may be made at www.wrightfuneralservices.net
