Elbert R. Holt

Elbert R. "Hardy" Holt passed away into the presence of our Lord on May 2, 2011. Hardy was born in Birmingham, Alabama, on April 25, 1925, to the late William and Florence(Burnes)Holt and grew up in the Fruitdale area just outside Mobile. Hardy grew up playing baseball on a field behind the post office. They used tree stumps for bases. His mother passed away when he was 12 and he was raised by his loving "Grandma Burns" who was also the town's post mistress. It was a time and a place where old men still met in the post office lobby to argue about the War Between the States; the Ku Klux Klan taught a lesson to an unfaithful husband; the fronts and backs of churches, schools, and ball teams were separated by race; one could still talk with Mr. Sam Young who had been a slave, everyone received a Sears & Roebuck catalog in the mail, and the town had both a sawmill and a turpentine still. He was sixteen years old when he graduated from Fruitdale High School. During World War Two, Hardy served in the U.S. Army Air Corps where he was trained as a mechanic to preflight and repair B-17 bombers for use in the European Theater. After the war, Hardy returned to the Mobile area and while playing what he thought was a pickup game of baseball became signed as a gangly right handed pitcher with the Brooklyn Dodgers organization. This took him to several teams through the southeast coast and Midwest one day landing him on the squad of the Zanesville Dodgers. Through God's providence, Hardy met Warren Myers, a buddy from WW II, who invited him to the family home for dinner. There Hardy met Warren's sister, Jean, and they were married September 21, 1947. Their travels took them to towns such as Ashville, NC, and Greenville, SC, before moving to Frazeysburg in 1954 where they settled and raised a family. Hardy was a long time member and Elder of the Community Bible Church in Frazeysburg, having been honored with the designation of Elder Emeritus for his years of service. He taught the adult Sunday School Class for over 35 years. Hardy maintained an affiliation with Bob Jones University in Greenville, SC, attending every annual Bible Conference but one from 1963 through 2009 when he was no longer able to make the trip. Hardy had the privilege of having been inducted into the Muskingum Valley Old Timers Baseball Association Hall of Fame. Surviving are a daughter, Sue (Charles) Bell; sons Tim Holt and Bill (Kay) Holt; grandsons, Will Holt, Phil Holt, and Josh McFerren; a sister, Mary Jean (Kenneth) Nichols; and a brother, James (Marcella) Holt. Jean, his beloved and loving wife passed away April 21, 2011, and he was also predeceased by his brother, Harry Holt; sisters, Elizabeth (Floyd) Replogle and Margaret (Robert) Gaston; and step-brothers, Walter (Helen) and Glenn (Libby) Holt. There will be no visitation or public services. A memorial service will be held at a later date. If felt appropriate, memorial contributions are requested to be sent to the Frazeysburg Community Bible Church, P.O. Box 10, Frazeysburg, OH 43822. Bolin-Dierkes Funeral Home and Cremation Services, 1271 Blue Ave., Zanesville is entrusted with all arrangements. To send a note of condolence, a sympathy card or comfort food to the Holt family: www.bolin-dierkesfuneralhome.com