Kalas Funeral Home & Crematory

Born on October 1, 1947, Eric L. Holle lived a life shaped by faith, humor, and a deep love for the people he held dear.

Eric’s early years took him to several states, living with different family members before continuing his education at the University of Delaware, where he majored in marketing and played football for the Blue Hens. With his outgoing personality and natural gift for connecting with people, a career in sales was a fitting path. He worked for Charms and Tootsie Roll Industries, which led him to become affectionately known as the “Candy Man,” managing a team of 80 and leading the country in sales. His work took him throughout the region before he eventually settled in Maryland, making his home in Annapolis in 1992.

On November 12, 1994, Eric married Patricia Graham Holle, his beloved wife and partner in life. Together, they built a life grounded in love and community.

A trip to Israel deepened Eric’s faith and helped set him on a new path of service. He became a junior warden at St. Paul’s Anglican Church in Crownsville before answering the call to ordained ministry. In October 1999, he was ordained a priest, beginning a chapter of his life that would become one of his most meaningful.

The privilege of baptizing children and celebrating the marriages of those whose lives he had helped nurture, including the next generations of his extended family gave him profound joy. For him, few things were more meaningful than witnessing these milestones and helping others mark life's most sacred moments.

Eric had always hoped to be a father, and while his path to fatherhood looked different from what he may once have imagined, it was no less meaningful. For 20 years, he served as a devoted sponsor parent to numerous Midshipmen at the United States Naval Academy, becoming affectionately known as “Mr. H” and “Papa Bear.” He was also godfather to many and a chosen father figure to several others. He embraced these relationships wholeheartedly, offering guidance, encouragement, humor, and a steady presence.  The “kids” he welcomed into his life—and the generations who followed—became family in every sense of the word.

The water was another enduring source of happiness for Eric. Whether boating, fishing, crabbing off his dock, or simply enjoying the peace of being near the water, he found comfort and contentment there. At home, he treasured the companionship of the many cats who shared his life over the years. He also loved a good project, puttering around, teaching, and sharing what he knew. Whatever he was doing, he brought his own unmistakable sense of humor, making even the ordinary moments memorable.

Eric was preceded in death by his parents, Robert Louis Holle and Janet Ruth (Wheeler) Holle; his brother, Robert; and his beloved Aunt Kay. He is survived by his loving wife, Pat; his half-sister, Karen; his stepmother, Janis; his large extended Graham and Snyder family, his beloved “mid-kids” and “grandmid-kids”; and the countless friends who became family through his years of friendship, mentorship, and ministry.

Eric will be remembered for his generous heart, mischievous humor, willingness to teach, and remarkable gift for making people feel welcome, valued, and loved. He understood that family is built not only through birth, but also through faithfulness, presence, and the countless small acts of care that shape a life. 

Family and friends are invited to celebrate Eric’s life on Saturday, November 14, 2026, from 9 AM until 11 AM at the Kalas Funeral Home & Crematory, 2973 Solomons Island Road, Edgewater, MD 21037, where a memorial service will begin at 11 AM.

A live stream for the service can be joined by using this link: <a href="https://us06web.zoom.us/j/87535448807">https://us06web.zoom.us/j/87535448807</a>

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Eric Louis Holle

Eric Louis Holle

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