Louis Ray Holtzclaw, 79, passed away on Jan. 22, 2013. He was born on Sept. 18, 1933, to the late Bert and Lettie (Brown) Holtzclaw, and was one of eight children.
Lou graduated from Sandcreek High School. After high school, he went to Georgetown College in Kentucky, graduating Summa Cum Laude in 1955. He returned to Sandcreek where he taught history, Latin, and math, and coached Jr. High basketball. During the summer, he attended I.U. and Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville and later completed his Master of Divinity degree. He was a senior minister at Mt. Pisgah Baptist Church, Shelbyville, First Indiana Baptist Church at LaPorte, Ind., and later First Baptist Church in Sullivan, Ind. He then went back to school at Ball State University in Muncie where he earned his Doctorate degree in Education. In 1977, he became one of a team of three appointed by the president of Indiana University to start a degree program for adult students in the Indiana University system which included eight campuses throughout the state. After 21 years, he retired from IU and within one month the University of Indianapolis asked him to become founding Dean of the new school for Adult Learning. In 1981, Lou and his wife Marlene purchased 56 acres at the south edge of Greenfield where they built an Executive Golf Course and driving range called Shekinah on the Brandywine. Throughout his life, he was involved with sports playing with the traveling 70 year old and up Men’s softball team. He ended up pitching for the Shekinah team at Brandywine Park and in the Shelbyville League for the 50 year and older team.
Lou is survived by his wife, of 59 years, Marlene (Tichenor) Holtzclaw; son, Howard (Bindy); daughters, Donieta, Lisa (David); six grandchildren, Kandis, Kyle, Rachel, Max, Hallie, and Sadie; sisters, Jean Dreyer, Ila Mae Slinker; and brother, David Holtzclaw.
Preceding him in death were his siblings, Loyd, Luella, Donna, and Shirley.
Visitation will take place from 3 until 7 p.m., on Friday, Jan. 25, 2013, at Erlewein Mortuary in Greenfield. Funeral services will take at 2 p.m., place on Saturday, Jan. 26, 2013, at the mortuary. Burial will take place at Park Cemetery in Greenfield.
Friends may share a memory or send a condolence at www.erleweinmortuary.com or email condolences to [email protected].
