Robert Edward "Ed" Lee Holt III

Robert Edward “Ed” Lee Holt  III, 81,  died peacefully Tuesday, June 14, 2022 after a courageous battle with Lewey Body Dementia. Beloved for his gentle spirit and service to the community Ed was well loved by all who knew him. His memorial service will be held Friday, June 17, 2022 in The Chapel at Bishop Gadsden, 1 Bishop Gadsden Way at 11:00 a.m. A private entombment will be held in St. Philip's Churchyard. Arrangements by J. Henry Stuhr, Inc. Downtown Chapel. 

His love for his wife of 50 years, Kitty Trask Holt, who passed away in 2008 was deep as was his love for his three children and six grandchildren.  Ed was a devoted spouse and partner during Kitty’s long battle with scleroderma. He is survived by his three children: Katherine Holt Hill (James) of Richmond VA, Edward Holt (Caroline) and Harold Holt (Flo) of Charleston, SC; and his grandchildren: James, Teddy, Walker, Edward, Leslie, Louis and Camille.  He is also survived by his loving sister, Martha Holt Ruffin and her three children: Walter, Michael and Frances Taylor; and his brother-in-law, Son Trask (Helen). 

Ed was born on October 28, 1940 in Greensboro, NC where he was raised on Sunset Drive with his sister, Marty. Ed attended Woodberry Forest and then went on to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill where he met Kitty and began his lifelong passion for Tarheel sports. 

Ed’s life was blessed with dear friends, children, and grandchildren.  Many fond memories were made at Litchfield and Wrightsville beaches where Ed and Kitty spent the summers and he even tried his hand at boating to entertain his children despite his lack of nautical skills.  He and Kitty loved nothing more than watching their grandchildren play sports.  Ed was passionate about his tennis and golf and always had a car trunk brimming with several tennis racquets, an artillery of tennis balls and a golf bag or two just in case he chanced upon a last-minute game.  He cherished his beloved poker club and the friendships of those dear friends were a source of great joy and companionship after Kitty’s death.  Ed loved nothing more than having his neighbors and their children swim in his pool at Legare street, where he would sit and talk for hours. In his later years at Bishop Gadsden, he resurrected his love of art and began painting watercolors again - a hobby that gave him solace. Ed cherished his lifelong friendships, and his family is forever grateful to those friends who remained loyal to the end of his life.

Ed was an active community leader, serving on the boards of Charleston Day School, where all three of his children attended; St. Philip's Church; Crisis ministries; Bishop Gadsden; Coastal Community Foundation, Episcopal Diocese of SC; and the State Board of Financial Institutions.  Ed was a guiding founder at Bishop Gadsden where he spent his last years and he founded the Kitty Holt Scleroderma foundation at MUSC, which was always close to his heart.  In his later years Ed worked with Ameriprise and remained devoted to his work colleagues there who remained loyal associates throughout his later years. His family is indebted to them for their loyalty to Ed. He was a member of The Carolina Yacht Club, Yeamans Hall and the Ocean Club of Florida.

Perhaps more than anything else, Ed was a true gentleman who showed warmth and kindness to everyone he met. The family is especially grateful to our dear friend Mary Cutler for her loving support to our dad and to the caring staff and nurses at Bishop Gadsden for their loving care and devotion to Ed and his family during his struggle with Lewey Body dementia.  

Memorials may be made to the Bishop Gadsden Employee Appreciation Fund, 1 Bishop Gadsden Way, Charleston, SC 29412 (https://www.bishopgadsden.org/giving/).