RICH SQUARE— Edward Thomas Hollowell, 80, passed away Friday, Jan. 2, 2009, at his home in Woodland.  Mr. Hollowell was born in Wayne County to John Franklin Hollowell and Lucy Elliott Hollowell on March 2, 1928.

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After the death of his father in 1933, his mother took her three sons back to the Eagletown community of Northampton County and settled on part of the land his great grandfather Thomas P. Elliott purchased in 1837.

After graduating from Rich Square High School he entered N.C. State College. He was drafted out of college near the end of World War II and served two years in Alaska with the Army Corps of Engineers being discharged with the rank of staff sergeant. He returned to N.C. State College and received his Bachelor of Science in agriculture.

At college, he was recognized for membership in the Order of 30 & 3, Blue Key, Alpha Zeta National Honor Society, and also served as president of the college Agriculture Club. He continued his education at Alabama Polytechnic Institute, now Auburn University, where he received his Master of Science in agriculture. At Auburn, he was selected for membership in Gamma Sigma Delta National Honor Society of Agriculture and the Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society.

Mr. Hollowell went to work for National Cottonseed Products Association after graduating from Auburn. He married Lenelle Fuller on Aug. 29, 1953 and the couple made their home in Atlanta.

In 1959, Mr. Hollowell took the position of livestock manager at Caledonia Prison Farm in Tillery, where he was in charge of the beef, swine and poultry production.

In 1963, he moved his family to Fayetteville and became general manager of Thomason Ranch, a large commercial beef cattle feeding operation. While in Fayetteville, Gov. Bob Scott appointed him a member of the N.C. Correction Commission and awarded him membership in the Order of the Long Leaf Pine for his service.

In 1972, after the death of his mother and a brother, Hugh, he returned to Northampton County and continued the family farming operation. Farming was in his blood and he took pride in being called a farmer. He believed that leaving the land in better condition than when you started was the best legacy for future generations. He was a member of Rich Square United Methodist Church.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his brother, Leslie Hugh (Red) Hollowell, his beloved wife, Lenelle Fuller Hollowell, and his son, Edward Thomas Hollowell Jr.

He is survived by daughters Cathy Hollowell of the home; Dr. Martha H. Welch and her husband, Alva, of Snow Hill and their children, Lenelle and Harrison; sons Frank Hollowell and his wife, Susan, of Hurdle Mills and their children Lee and his wife, Jamie, and Grant; Eric Hollowell and his wife, Linda, of Fall Branch, Tenn. and their children James, Hannah, and John; Tim Hollowell and his wife, Paula, of Woodland; daughter-in-law, Ann Hollowell of Seaboard and her children Jason and Lucy. Also surviving is his brother John Hollowell and his wife, Mary Louise, of Albany, GA and their two daughters.

The funeral service will be conducted at 3 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 5, at the Chapel of Sykes Funeral Service in Rich Square, with the Rev. Roger Cope and the Rev. Dr. Michael Hobbs officiating. The interment will follow at Cedar Lawn Cemetery in Rich Square.

The family will receive friends from 7-8:30 p.m. today, Jan 4, at Sykes Funeral Service. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to the Rich Square Volunteer Fire Department, P.O. Box 958, Rich Square NC 27869. Condolences: sykesfuneralservice.com.