Albert Henry Hollister

Albert Henry Hollister
November 30, 1919 – April 11, 2012

Joyce Lee Hollister
June 7, 1920 – August 2, 2008

LtCol Al Hollister, USMCR was born in Pasadena, CA to parents John Isaac and Charlotte Hollister. The family moved to Ontario, CA during the ‘great depression’. Joyce was born in Ontario to parents Verne and Tilla Lee. They met in high school and both graduated from Chaffey College in 1938. Al joined the Naval Aviation Cadet program, completing flight training at NAS Jacksonville and Miami, FL. After receiving his wings and a commission as a 2ndLt in the Marine Corps he proceeded to Ontario to marry Joyce on June 12, 1942, beginning a lifelong partnership lasting 66 years. Al was assigned to Marine Fighter Squadron VMF 122 in San Diego. And after only 20 hours of flight time in the Grumman F4-F Wildcat, they were sent to the Solomon Island area in the South Pacific. After seeing combat in Guadalcanal and other exotic places and contracting malaria, he and Joyce were sent first to NAS Jacksonville where he trained new pilots in the F4-U Corsair and then to Goleta, CA where he joined VMF 472 to train in the new F6-F Hellcat. In preparation for the invasion of Japan. The squadron was in Hawaii when Japan surrendered.
Released from active duty, he and Joyce settled in Costa Mesa, CA where, with his brother Richard, they founded Hollister Brothers Nursery in 1946.
Many years later they retired to Paso Robles, CA and eventually moved to Modesto, CA where Joyce passed away in 2008. Al moved to Medford, OR where he enjoyed his family until his death.
Joyce and Al were members of the Lutheran Church and were involved in hunting, travel and love of country. They were preceded in death by son Alan Hollister and survived by children Steve Hollister of Fruita, CO, Fred Hollister of Las Vegas, NV and Laura Furu of Medford, OR. They have 7 grandchildren and 9 great grandchildren.
Their interment will be August 2, 2012 at Harbor Lawn-Mt. Olive Memorial Park in Costa Mesa, CA