Fred Holdrege

Fred Ernest Holdrege, Jr., 98, of Ellicott City, Md., died Saturday, Feb. 13, 2016, from complications resulting from a fall.

Fred was born in Thermopolis on Sept. 3, 1917, and lived in Durham for 40 years before moving to Maryland.

After graduating from Hot Springs County High School, Fred attended the University of Colorado, West Point Preparatory School at Fort Winfield Scott near San Francisco, and the United States Military Academy at West Point. After graduating from West Point in 1942, he was commissioned in the Army Air Corps. After completing flight training, he was stationed at Rackheath Station in England for combat duty. He completed 30 missions as a B-24 pilot.

After the war ended, Fred stayed in the military, serving at the Pentagon. He received his MA at the University of Minnesota and his PhD from Ohio State University. He joined the first faculty at the then newly formed Air Force Academy, where he was appointed Professor and Head of Psychology Department. He subsequently served at Lackland Air Force Base, and Maxwell AFB, achieving the rank of Colonel.

He retired to Durham, N. C. in 1970, after which he worked several years at the National Laboratory for Higher Education. In retirement he played tennis and swam in the National Senior Olympics where he set records in his age bracket. Fred and his wife, Jane, delivered Meals on Wheels for 19 years in Durham.

He is survived by his son, Mark Holdrege of Columbia, Md.; four nieces; five nephews; and numerous great and great-great nieces and nephews.

He was preceded by his wife of 68 years, Jane Healy Holdrege, who died in January 2014.

Colonel Holdrege will be interred in Arlington National Cemetery, alongside his beloved wife, at a later date. Memorial donations may be made to Gilchrist Hospice Care, Inc., 5537 Twin Knolls Rd., Ste. 434, Columbia, Md. 21045.