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Obituary of Grace Holderman , 102

Obituary of Grace Holderman , 102
Name of Deceased Grace Holderman
Age 102
Date of Death 01/15/2015
Date of Birth 09/08/1912
Funeral Home Mark D. Heintzelman Funeral & Cremation Services

Grace B. Holderman died on January 15, 2015 at her home in State College at the age of 102. She was born Helen Grace Baer, the fourth of six children, to John and Elmina Snyder Baer in Reading, Pennsylvania on September 8th, 1912. From the age of five, Grace – as she was always called – received lessons in dance and elocution. This led to many years of performing in vaudeville shows, including the Follies of 1922 at Reading’s elegant Capitol Theatre. Always an excellent student, Grace graduated from Girls High School in 1929 with highest honors. She came to Penn State (then College) in 1930, on a scholarship majoring in English and French.

She met her husband, Kenneth L. Holderman, in Schwab Auditorium when she auditioned for the Thespian Spring musical in 1931. At that time, girls who could tap dance were not the same girls who attended college! She graduated in 1934 Phi Beta Kappa, an Evan Pugh Scholar and as the marshal of the college – then school – of education. She played leading roles in five Thespian shows during her college years. After she and Ken married in 1937, they spent the next four years in Hollywood working in radio, film and theatre. They were idyllic, golden years according to Grace, but they very happily returned to State College in 1941 to raise a family. Daughter Kenna was born in 1942 and daughter Vinnie in 1946. From the mid-40’s through the early 1960’s Grace gave dancing lessons to countless little girls and a few brave boys how to ‘Shuffle off to Buffalo’ and do basic soft-shoe and time steps.

She was a willing, vigorous volunteer for many University and area organizations including The State College Community Theatre and the Penn State Alumni Association. The Bloodmobile relied on her for many years to handle detailed record-keeping. The Centre County Historical Society awarded her in 2002 for her tireless efforts to enliven the Centre Furnace Mansion with good food, waitressing and well-researched, humorous presentations. ‘State College According to Grace’ was performed there and also at South Hills School of Business and Technology, the warm, enjoyable venue for most of her last public performances.

Grace joined Kappa Alpha Theta sorority in 1931 and remained a loyal, committed member since then. In 1987 she received the outstanding alumna of the year award which honors achievements and service to one’s sorority, university, and community. A scholarship is presented each year in her name.

Grace and Ken Holderman were the first couple to ever receive Penn State’s Lion’s Paw Medal which occurred in 1986 and Grace rode smiling and waving in an open convertible in 2003 as the Grand Marshal of Penn State’s Homecoming parade.

Grace was a wonderful role model and friend to many, many people. She was thoughtful, wise and available, always interested in others’ lives and their families. Her loyalty and determination to look for and strengthen the best in others caused friends and acquaintances to enjoy her company and trust her with confidences.

She will be greatly missed by at least four generations of family and friends.

Her husband, Kenneth L. Holderman, Vice-President emeritus of the Commonwealth Campuses of Penn State died in 1987. She is survived by her daughters Kenna Adatte of Philadelphia, PA. and Vinnie Holderman of Hendersonville, North Carolina.

A celebration of Grace’s long and extraordinary life will be held and Family and friends will be notified. In lieu of flowers, contributions in memory of Grace Baer Holderman may be made to:

The Grace Holderman Benchmark Fund
at South Hills School of Business and Technology
The Kenneth L. and Grace B. Holderman Scholarship Fund
Penn State University
The Centre County Historical Society
The Grace Holderman Scholarship Fund. Kappa Alpha Theta