Eber James Holtry, Jr.

Eber James Holtry, Jr., 85, of Newville, departed this life on the morning of Saturday, October 5, 2024, at his home.

He was born on February 14, 1939, in Carlisle, a son of the late Eber J. and Pearl Viola (Hollenbaugh) Holtry, Sr. Eber married Thelma J. Wright on January 23, 1958, in Orrstown, PA.

Eber worked as a heavy equipment mechanic for over 30 years for the former Worley Equipment Co., from where he retired. He was a member of the Carlisle Seventh-day Adventist Church for over seventy years and active with their church and enjoyed working with and educating the youth.

In his younger years, Eber designed and built the home, he lived in until his passing, Eber enjoyed riding motorcycles and square dancing. He liked to listen to country and bluegrass music. Eber enjoyed mowing grass and working around his property, really doing anything that involved working on or with a tractor. He was well known to pitch-in and help anyone with whatever they needed; building, working with family on fixing things. Eber was a jack-of-all trades and could do just about anything in that realm, and if he couldn’t fix it, it was not broken.

In addition to his wife of sixty-six years, Thelma, he is survived by five children, Pamela and husband Elvis Wert, Carolyn (Jo) Schlusser and husband Billy Jr., Nita Negley and husband Bill, Benjamin Holtry and wife Ingrid, and William (Bill) Holtry and wife Rekha; fourteen grandchildren, Randall Wert 2013 and wife Kimberly, Angela Rhoades, Rodney Wert and wife Heather, Aimee Meier and husband Jason, Brittany Downey and husband Zack, Courtney Schlusser, Sarah Moseley and husband Andrew, David Negley and wife Michelle, Jim Negley and wife Alisha, Brian Negley and wife Megan, Clara Holtry, Seth Holtry, Maggie Holtry, and Emily Holtry; twenty five great grandchildren, Allen Wert, Naomi Wert, Robert Fry, Lauralie Rhoades, James Wert, Rodney Wert Jr. and wife Eliza, Elizabeth Wert, Cathrine Wert, Joshua Wert, Randy Wert, Emily Wert, Crystal Wert, Erin Meier, Jason Meier Jr., Laken Downey, Callie Downey, Augie Moseley, Bash Moseley, Trent Negley, Trevor Negley, Madison Negley, Rebeckah Negley, Kipton Negley, Colby Negley, and Cora Negley; one great great granddaughter, Malia Wert; brothers and sisters; Laurel Norman, Betsy Graham, Paul Holtry, Charlie Holtry, Kathryn Wells, many nieces and nephews (27), great nieces and nephews (37).

In addition to his parents, Eber was preceded in death by a son, Eber James Holtry III, who died in 1971; grandson Randall Wert 2013; sister Mary Lulu Weigle 2023; sister Nellie Draper 2012; and brother John Holtry 2024.

His funeral arrangements have been entrusted the Fogelsanger-Bricker Funeral Home & Crematorium, Inc., Shippensburg. There will be no public viewing, visitation, or funeral service. Interment (burial) will also be private. However, all are welcome to join us for a celebration of Eber’s life at Doubling Gap Church of God, 50 McCrea Road, Newville, PA 17241 at 11:00 a.m., on Monday, October 14, 2024. 

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Residential Hospice at 100 Sterling Parkway Suite # 110 Mechanicsburg, PA 17050-2903 or Carlisle Seventh Day Adventist Church at 10 Belvedere St., Carlisle, PA 17013.