Skip Holton

July 7, 1943 - March 18, 2025   Skip was born in McKeesport, Pennsylvania, the son of the late Stanley and Mary (Hercula) Piontek.  He passed away, peacefully, at home, in Henderson, Nevada, with his wife, Roberta, at his side.
Skip served in the United States Army, training at Fort Dix and Fort Monmouth, New Jersey, and in Huntsville, Alabama.  In 1963-64 he served as a radar repairman in Greenland.  This electronics training served him well for the rest of his life .
After his military service he wanted to go someplace warm.  Inspired by "California Dreaming," he moved to Los Angeles and worked at Soderberg Manufacturing , testing components of the early space program.  When his father became ill, he briefly returned to Pennsylvania and met Roberta at Putnam Park, a local watering hole.  A first motorcycle ride and a repaired record player impressed Roberta.  Her fried chicken and cold beer impressed Skip.  Numerous letters between Penn State and Los Angeles followed and in November 1971, they were married. After living briefly in El Monte, California they moved to Las Vegas.  Skip parked cars at the Showboat and Roberta began a teaching career.  Later he co-owned and ran The Carburetor Shop.  Skip enjoyed and followed NASCAR, NHRA, and space exploration.  He liked all things mechanical: designing, machining, welding and selling motorcycle (don't) tip-over bars for a time. He had fifty-three years of marriage, a number of enduring friendships, eight dogs, three motorcycles, a truck and a car for local drag racing, a travel trailer, two motorhomes, and many, many, many miles traveling the United States cross-country and up and down both coasts. . . with his wife and with friends.  Skip took the time to reminisce and look back at a full life during these past six months.
He is survived by his wife, Roberta; cousin, Sandra Cook of Painted Post, NY; brothers-in-law, John (Bobbie) Holton of Blossburg, PA and Jack Holton of Las Vegas, NV; three sisters-in law, Kim (John Wayne) Burnett of Okeechobee, FL, Kimberlee Wilson of Wilmer, TX; April Holton of  Sebastian, FL; mother-in-law, Linda (Gerald) Piper of Fellsmere, FL; and long-time good friends, Stephen Hooper of Coos Bay, OR; Michael (Laura) Crawford of Valley Grande, AL; Von Piper of Boulder City, NV; and Carlo Poliak of Las Vegas, NV.
Skip was preceded in death by his parents, his sister Antoinette Bowers; brothers-in-law, Lloyd Bowers and Kelsey Holton; cousins, Lloyd Cook; Robert and Marjorie Johns; Aunt, Susan Benson; Uncles, Howard Benson, Francis Piontek, and John Zuke; and mother-in-law, Kathryn (Bogaczyk) Holton.
At Skip's request, no services are planned.  Please, no flowers.  If you want to honor his memory, your favorite charity or Puppies Behind Bars, an organization that trains service dogs for veterans and first responders, would be a good choice.