Paul Wray Forrestry

Robert E. Holsinger

STAUNTON — Robert Eugene Holsinger, 83, husband, of Orlean (Rynhart) Holsinger of 108 Rose Hill Circle, died Sunday, July 24, 2011, at King's Daughters' Community Health and Rehabilitation Center. He was born June 24, 1928, in Staunton, the son of the late Eugene Harrison and Louise (Heydenreich) Holsinger.

He attended Woodbury Forest School in Orange and one year at Princeton University before returning home to take over the family business after the death of his father.

Mr. Holsinger was owner and president of Holsinger Lumber Co. for 43 years.

He was past president of Staunton Rotary Club, Historic Staunton Foundation and Staunton-Augusta Chamber of Commerce. He was the first president of Shenandoah Rose Society, former executive vice president of Woodrow Wilson Birthplace, was on the Staunton Zoning Board for 10 years, a member in the 1950s of the Staunton Bi-racial Committee and was a board member of First Virginia Bank (now BB&T) for 41 years.

He was a member of Trinity Episcopal Church, where he was a former junior warden and treasurer.

Following is a list of service awards that he had received: Staunton and Augusta Junior Chamber of Commerce, Rotary International's Four Avenues Service Award, the Staunton Rotary Club Service Award and chairman of the committee to form the Rotary Breakfast Club.

He was preceded in death by two daughters, Ann Lesley Holsinger and Patricia Louise (Holsinger) Ryan.

He is survived by his loving wife and many, many friends.

A funeral service will be conducted at 11 a.m. Wednesday, July 27, 2011, in Trinity Episcopal Church by the Rev. Dr. Paul Nancarrow and the Rev. Shelby Ochs Owen. Burial will follow in Thornrose Cemetery.

Active pallbearers will be Roller Shipplett, Rick Chittum, Stuart Cochran, Ken Monroe, Dick Wray, Bill Duncan, Taine McPherson, Ed Brown and Bill Tate.

In lieu of flowers, Mr. Holsinger requested that memorials be made to Trinity Episcopal Church, 214 W. Beverley St., Staunton, VA 24401.

Henry Funeral Home is handling the arrangements.

Invasive Tree Species Reunited with Its Natural Enemy

To which it is susceptible. The invasion of Norway maple ( Acer platanoides ) into North American forests is considered to reduce native flora richness. Lack of predators is one reason Norway maple is more successful than the native, sugar maple ( Acer saccharum ). The fungus causes tar spot disease.The researchers found a strong link between the outbreak of the disease and a very sharp decline in sapling and tree growth, together with high mortality of Norway maple saplings.  While Norway maple usually out grows sugar maple, the reverse situation was observed after the epidemics. The researchers results suggest that the invasion potential of Norway maple could be reduced by the fungus, Rhytisma acerinum.