Oscar Carl Holderer November 4, 1919 – May 5, 2015
Mr. Holderer was born in Preum, Germany. He was the last surviving member of Wernher von Braun’s original team of 120 engineers and scientists coming from Germany as part of Operation Paperclip in 1945. Mr. Holderer was proud to become a citizen of the USA in 1955. Mr. Holderer was a gifted mechanical engineer, designer, fabricator and photographer. He was self-sufficient, always opting for the practical. As a “hands-on” man, he built the house in which he lived for 65 years. He designed and oversaw the construction of the tri-sonic wind tunnel used in the development of the Saturn rocket that carried men to the moon. This facility remains in use today. He owns 19 patents as a result of his work and innovations. After retiring from NASA in 1974, Mr. Holderer designed the multi-axis trainer, a one-sixth gravity chair, and many other exhibits and interactive displays at the U.S. Space & Rocket Center. He was inducted into the Space Camp Hall of Fame in 2008.
He is preceded in death by his parents, Richard Holderer and Helene Grawe Holderer, his brother Erich Joseph Holderer, his sister Doris Holderer Pape, and his wife of 50 years, Inge Spors Holderer. He is survived by his wife, Jan Smith Dunlap Holderer, son Thomas (Nancy) Holderer, son Michael (Marjorie) Holderer, his step son Clifford (Cherie) Dunlap, his step daughter Mary (John) Gaither, his grandchildren Sarah Helen Holderer, Erich (Morgan) Holderer, Melanie (Steven) Lamar, and Daniel Holderer (Rebecca), and three great-grandchildren, Peyton Ramsay Holderer, Allison Spring Holderer, and Autumn Kate Holderer. His step grandchildren are Amanda Reed and Amy Pigg. His step great-grandchildren are Alyssa Pigg, Aubrey Pigg and John Reed.
A gift to your favorite charity is suggested in lieu of flowers.
