Alma Athene Holt Gaither, daughter and first born of seven to James and Helen "Bess" Holt, arrived on June 14, 1914, and left this world on Sunday, August 31, 2014. Her life span was 100 years, two and a half months, and witnessed many events. Some of these events were horse and buggy days, to the advancement of landing on the moon and beyond, communicating by mail and local telephone, to instant contact by computers, internet and smart phones. She was an infant when World War I started, followed by World War II, the Korean conflict, the Cold War with Russia, Viet Nam, Iraq, Afghanistan, and now the war on terror. Through all of this, she remained strong in her faith in Jesus Christ. She married Ralph Gaither in 1933, and celebrated their 70 year wedding anniversary two months before his death on December 12, 2003. Along with being a loving wife, mother and grandmother, Alma and her husband, Ralph, worked together in ministry for many years. She was an avid reader, excelled in home arts, and was faithful to attend church to the end. She was greatly loved and will be missed by all who knew her. She is survived by her children, Norma and Jim Thompson, Paul and Donna Gaither, Jim and Judy Gaither, Lavonne Gaither Faurie, Lamont Faurie, Charles and Diana Gaither, and Karen and Ralph Castiglione; and siblings in Oklahoma, Earl Holt, Kathryn Sadler, Gerald Holt, Gene Holt and Mary Schmidt. Alma's legacy includes 17 grandchildren; 36 great-grandchildren; 11 great-great grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews. Visitation will be held at Whitehurst, Sullivan, Burns & Blair Funeral Home on Wednesday, September 10, 2014, from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. A Memorial Service will be held at Northpark Community Church, 2297 E. Shepherd Ave., Fresno, CA, on Thursday, September 11, 2014, at 11:00 a.m. Whitehurst, Sullivan, Burns & Blair Funeral Home, 1525 East Saginaw Way, Fresno, California
Alma Athene Holt Gaither, daughter and first born of seven to James and Helen "Bess" Holt, arrived on June 14, 1914, and left this world on Sunday, August 31, 2014. Her life span was 100 years, two and a half months, and witnessed many events. Some of these events were horse and buggy days, to the advancement of landing on the moon and beyond, communicating by mail and local telephone, to instant contact by computers, internet and smart phones. She was an infant when World War I started, followed by World War II, the Korean conflict, the Cold War with Russia, Viet Nam, Iraq, Afghanistan, and now the war on terror. Through all of this, she remained strong in her faith in Jesus Christ. She married Ralph Gaither in 1933, and celebrated their 70 year wedding anniversary two months before his death on December 12, 2003. Along with being a loving wife, mother and grandmother, Alma and her husband, Ralph, worked together in ministry for many years. She was an avid reader, excelled in home arts, and was faithful to attend church to the end. She was greatly loved and will be missed by all who knew her. She is survived by her children, Norma and Jim Thompson, Paul and Donna Gaither, Jim and Judy Gaither, Lavonne Gaither Faurie, Lamont Faurie, Charles and Diana Gaither, and Karen and Ralph Castiglione; and siblings in Oklahoma, Earl Holt, Kathryn Sadler, Gerald Holt, Gene Holt and Mary Schmidt. Alma's legacy includes 17 grandchildren; 36 great-grandchildren; 11 great-great grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews. Visitation will be held at Whitehurst, Sullivan, Burns & Blair Funeral Home on Wednesday, September 10, 2014, from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. A Memorial Service will be held at Northpark Community Church, 2297 E. Shepherd Ave., Fresno, CA, on Thursday, September 11, 2014, at 11:00 a.m. Whitehurst, Sullivan, Burns & Blair Funeral Home, 1525 East Saginaw Way, Fresno, California
