Camano Island – Joseph Fagaly Holton, age 92, passed away peacefully in his home on Camano Island, WA on August 14, 2022, with his wife Cathlyn by his side. Joe was born on December 4, 1929 in Middletown, Ohio. He is preceded in death by his parents Elizabeth “Pat” (Fagaly) Holton and Joseph W. Holton and his brother Thomas Holton. He is survived by his loving wife of forty- three years Cathlyn A. (Johnston) Holton, his four sons, Pete (Connie), Steve (Reisha), Dan, and Randy (Stephanie) Reeves, seven grandchildren, many nieces and nephews, one great-grandson, and Martha Tate (former spouse). Joe, from the age of eight, was always employed, from selling magazines, delivering newspapers, lifeguarding, surveying, and as a steelworker for Armco Steel. He achieved Life rank and Order of the Arrow as a Boy Scout. He graduated from Middletown High School in 1947 and from Dartmouth College, class of 1951, majoring in economics, and was a member of Phi Delta Theta fraternity. Upon graduation he was commissioned as an officer in the U.S. Navy, serving aboard an amphibious attack transport ship, the U.S.S. Sandoval, as Communications Officer during the Korean War. He was honorably discharged in 1955 as a Lieutenant. He began his distinguished career in the packaging business at Container Corporation in Seattle in 1955. In 1961, he co-founded, with business partner Don Anderson, Allpak Container, which became a leading, independent corrugated packaging company with a single-minded dedication to the customer. Joe had numerous business interests outside of Allpak, including joint ownership of the Service Paper Company, Sheets Unlimited, and a wide range of real estate ventures. He was an active member in the Association of Paper Affiliations, Fibre Box Association, and the National Purchasing Association. Never really retiring, Joe and Cathy moved to Camano Island focusing their attention on the outdoors and community interests. He was an enthusiastic volunteer with the Friends of Camano Island Parks (FOCIPS) and Four Springs Preserve, and served as President of the Saratoga Shores Water Association. Joe and his family dedicated thirty acres of land adjacent to Cama Beach State Park to the Whidbey Camano Island Land Trust for permanent protection as a nature preserve. Treasured were yearly family reunions with his brother Tom’s family on trips far and wide throughout the US, Canada, and Europe. Joe and Cathy met many new friends in their home away from home in Tucson, AZ. Joe’s highlights: traveling to all seven continents (his favorite was Antarctica), a successful ascent of Mt. Rainier, cruising with Cathy to Alaska in their 20 foot Grady-White, bicycling, vintage cars, hiking, his beloved ski group friends, Sabino Canyon, the Mariners, piloting a float plane, mowing the fields on his tractor affectionately named “Oleo”, reading Gary Larson (Far Side), and, of course, fishing of every kind, especially family trips to Hi Hium Lake where all of the grandchildren learned to fly fish. His highest priorities were his love of his family and friends. Joe was a generous and loving husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle, and friend and was always optimistic, wise, humorous, and fun! One of his favorite sayings: “Always remember the three G’s, boys: Grit, Grace, and Gumption.” A private family service will be held. In lieu of flowers, please consider contributing in Joe’s name to the Whidbey Camano Island Land Trust, 765 Won Road #C201, Greenbank, WA 98253, 360-222-3310, www.wclt.org
Published by Stanwood Camano News from Aug. 23 to Aug. 24, 2022.
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