William Albert Holbein
William Albert Holbein, 86, of West Sunbury passed away at 10:27 p.m. Monday at VNA Inpatient Hospice, Butler.
He was born on Aug. 24, 1928, in Butler to the late William Harmon and Winona Suzanne Miller Holbein.
He was a well-known general contractor in the Butler and Indiana areas.
William had a great love for farming. He served on the board of the Butler Farm Show for 33 years and served as treasurer for 31 of those years. Recently, he served as director emeritus. He also served on the Board for Farmland Preservation under the direction of Ron Fodor.
William was a member of the Unionville Grange for 50 years.
He designed and built the arena bleachers at the Butler Farm Show. This was the start of his great friendship with many Amish workers in the New Wilmington area. He also built the FSA building on the Farm Show Grounds.
In the past, he built many buildings in and surrounding the Butler area including Rivera Dormitory in Slippery Rock, Easter Seals, Allied Auto, Shannon Engineers and Sunbury Fields for retired and handicapped on West Sunbury Road.
He spent many years building in Indiana, Pa., and the surrounding areas, including the Westgate Apartments, Senior Highrise and Senior Centers, the Airport Office Complex, the State Police Barracks in Clymer, a Catholic school and the Catholic Church Starford. In Punxsutawney, he was the contractor and part owner of the Personal Care Home, formerly the old Adrian Hospital, now called Wellington Heights.
He was a member of the Rider Lutheran Church for much of his married life. He served in many positions. He especially loved the work involved in Apple Butter Making and the Strawberry Festival.
He is survived by his wife of 65 years, Donna Cranmer Holbein, who he married on June 10, 1949; his children, Susan (James) Bennett, William P. (Glenda) Holbein and Laura (Richard) Fleeger; his brother, Robert (Amy); his sisters-in-law, Nancy Holbein, Kathryn Cranmer Minehart and Lois Nebel Cranmer; his nieces and nephews; his grandchildren, Elizabeth Bennett, William B. (Stacy) Holbein, Sarah Lombardo, David (Jennifer) Holbein, Richard (Nicole) Fleeger, Melissa (Don) Helfer, Rebecca (Clint) Kiddle, Lucas Fleeger and Virginia Vorndran; and his nine great grandchildren, Lillian Rose, Aiden and Xander Holbein, Sophia Fleeger, Madalyn and Isaac Helfer, Liam and Collin Kiddle and Haley Vorndran.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his son, Jeffrey Holbein, and his brothers, Charles R. and Paul Holbein.
Holbein— The friends of William Albert Holbein, who passed away Monday, Nov. 3, 2014, will be received from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday at the Young Funeral Home, 127 W. Jefferson St., Butler.Services will be at 11 a.m. Friday at the Rider Lutheran Church, 189 Rider Church Road, West Sunbury, with his granddaughter, the Deacon Melissa Helfer of the Trinity Lutheran Church of Westminster, Md., officiating, assisted by the Pastor Joel Benson of Butler Trinity Lutheran Church.Memorial contributions may be given to VNA Hospice, 154 Hindman Road, Butler, PA 16001.For more information, go to www.youngfuneralhomes.com.
