Jack Maurice Holton, age 98, residing in Lake Mary, Florida peacefully passed away on January 23, 2025. He was a beloved husband, father, grandfather, and great grandfather.
Jack was born in Detroit, MI on October 25, 1926 and grew up in Wilmington, NC, one of four siblings in a very loving and close family. He attended New Hanover High School and Atlantic Christian College majoring in education where he met his future wife Emily Holland; they were married in 1951. He soon joined the Air Force and also attended Officers Candidate School, graduating as 2nd Lieutenant. In 1954, he received orders to go to Germany and France, his family remaining in North Carolina. After returning from Europe, Jack was honorably discharged and earned his master’s degree in education and administration from East Carolina University.
In 1959, Jack and his family moved to Orlando, Florida to join the initial faculty of Maynard Evans High School as an English teacher. He had an exemplary career as an educator and for 23 years was the first principal of Meadowbrook Jr. High. He was married to Emily for 48 years. Seven years after Emily’s death, Jack married Nola Lee and they were together 17 years until her passing in 2022.
Having a strong faith, Jack was an active member of Central Christian Church throughout his life, serving as both a deacon and an elder; for the past ten years he was a member of First Congregational Church of Winter Park.
Jack loved to read, swim, garden, travel, watch sports on TV, quote literature and make puns; his greatest passion was surf fishing. He will be greatly missed by his family and friends.
Jack is survived by his son Jack Holton Jr. and wife Ginger Holton; daughter Julie Holton Tarnell and husband Scott Tarnell. He has three grandchildren: Ben Holton, Rebecca Berton, and Ashleigh Tarnell. Jack also is survived by his two great grandchildren, Jamie and Sloane Berton. He is also survived by his sister June McKinney.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that a donation be made in his honor to Advent Health Hospice Central Florida
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