Charles (Chuck) Holston

Charles “Chuck” Holston, 82, loving husband and father, passed on Dec 29, 2020 at the Northeast Georgia Medical Center Gainesville due to congestive heart failure. 

Chuck was born in Manhattan, NY to Joseph and Evelyn Holston and was the oldest of three children. He had fond memories of growing up in Brooklyn near the famous attractions of Coney Island. At age 10, his family moved to Howell, NJ and started an egg farm where he worked full-time from an early age, including the making of routine deliveries in New York City. In his early twenties, Chuck owned and operated a Shell gas and auto service station in Toms River, NJ. It was during this time, his life-long love of aviation led him to become a rated Commercial and Multi-engine Pilot, including the purchase of a much loved Globe Swift airplane. In 1964, Chuck co-founded Blu Flame Gas Service, selling, installing, and servicing a wide variety of furnaces, water heaters, gas grills, and HVAC equipment, both residential and commercial, for over 23 years. Based in Freehold, NJ, they served a large portion of Central NJ and the Jersey Shore. He and his partner split in 1980 and Chuck continued as Burn-Rite Service. He took great pride in delivering quality and was always delighted when solving an issue that others thought that no one could fix. His work ethic kept many customers’ heat on in the midst of winter and he formed a number of friendships with area restaurant owners by repairing malfunctioning ovens, often in the nick of time. In 1975, he joined the Freehold Township Independent #1 Volunteer Fire Department and rose to the rank of Captain. He was a graduate of the Monmouth Fire Academy and instructed new firefighters on the various pumpers, tankers, and aerial-scope trucks used by the Department. Retiring from Burn-Rite in 1987, he sought to leave winter behind and relocated to Gainesville, GA and Lake Lanier. He had a life-long love of everything mechanical, specifically sports/race cars, boats, trains, and aircraft. He took up amateur “ham” radio and delighted in communicating with hundreds of people across the globe. He was active in the Peachtree Miata Club, along with various motorcycle and car groups, and he treasured the friends and experiences had while seeking the best curvy roads in the south. Chuck was also a member of the local YMCA and loved attending water aerobics and the social activities that came with his newest set of friends. He was a fervent patriot and flew the American flag daily. Furthermore, he closely followed all news with a focus on the political and financial. His love of reading, education, history, and the application of independent thought and common sense in all things was at his core. He loved to laugh and most enjoyed the traditional comedy styles of the 40’s & 50’s. Most importantly, Chuck married the love of his life, Lois, in 1967. For 53 years, they shared a bond that few are fortunate to experience. He was an incredibly proud man and specifically proud of his family and his role as “Pop-Pop”. 

Chuck was preceded in death by his parents, Joe and Evelyn, and granddaughter Kathy Marder. 

He is survived by his wife Lois, daughters Terri (Bill) Marder and Sharon (David) Campbell, son Ken (Jennifer) Holston, grandchildren, Kyle (Melissa) Reed, Chris Marder, Stacey (Justin) Reed, and great-grandchildren Landon & Lucy Marder and Justin & Allie Reed. 

Arrangements are being handled by Hillside Chapel Funeral Home and a celebration of his life will be planned for a date to be determined. 

In lieu of flowers, donations in his honor would be appreciated to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. A link is available at www.cff.org

Online condolences may be made at www.hillsidechapelfuneralhome.com

Hillside Chapel Funeral Home & Cremation Services 1190 McEver Rd. Gainesville, GA.