Dr. Reverend Jonathan Masters Hole, a retired Presbyterian minister, loving husband, father, grandfather and friend, passed away Monday, February 24, 2025, at the age of 88. After enjoying a wonderful lunch with friends, he suffered a heart attack, or as his family believes, "a broken heart." Jonathan lost his cherished wife, Gail Spencer Hole, in September 2024. (see her obituary on this site also).  The devoted couple, who resided in The Villages, FL, were married for 59 years.

The son of Maurice Edwin Hole, Sr. and Jean Russell Hole, Jonathan was born in 1937 in East Cleveland, Ohio. The family moved to Bryn Mawr, PA, in 1945, where Jonathan grew up with two brothers, Ted and Douglas, and a younger sister, Carolyn. He was fond of trains and loved traveling up and down the Main Line as a child. Jonathan was preceded in death by Ted and Carolyn.

In 1955, Jonathan graduated from Aldan High School in Landsdowne, PA, and then in 1958, Albright College in Reading, PA. He served in the Army from 1958 – 1962, where his gift for language was discovered. He studied Chinese and became a Chinese interpreter working for U.S. intelligence for four years. After his time in the Army, he received his Master's in Theological Studies from San Francisco Theological Seminary in 1965. In 1991, he earned his Doctorate of Ministry from Austin Seminary.

In the mid-1950s, when Jonathan's family moved from Pennsylvania to Littleton, Colorado, he met his beloved wife, Gail, the best friend of his sister, Carolyn. Gail often recalled her first impression of Jonathan: "He was very sophisticated, worldly and suave," she used to say. He proposed to Gail after a year of dating, and they were married at the First Presbyterian Church of Littleton on January 2, 1965.

Shortly after their wedding, the couple moved to Fairfax, California, so Jonathan could finish seminary in San Francisco. The two later enjoyed traveling through Europe, while studying German together at the Goethe Institute in Kochel Am See to further Jonathan's Theology education.

In May 1965, Jonathan was ordained at First Presbyterian Church in Littleton, CO. His first assignment was Associate Pastor at The First Presbyterian Church of Greeley, CO, where he worked for three years. The couple then moved to Midland, Texas, with their young children, Kristin and Doran. Their third child, Brandon, was born in Midland. While in Midland, Jonathan was the minister of Christ Presbyterian Church and also the police chaplain. The family then moved to Austin, before settling in Dripping Springs, Texas. Between 1974-81, Jonathan was a state official in Texas, tasked with leading the state Department of Human Services' efforts to prevent child abuse and neglect. Between 1981-1987, Jonathan held various roles, including: Interim Minister of Covenant Presbyterian Church of Austin, Counselor at Austin Hospice, Minister of a Presbyterian house church in Dripping Springs, and Founder of Circle H Camp.

He was later called to become Pastor of Covenant Presbyterian in New Orleans from 1987-1992, and he finished his ministry in Colorado at the First Presbyterian Church of Littleton from 1992-2002, ending his career where it all began.

For Jonathan, the "Top Five Things" he was most proud of included: 1) Marrying Gail and having a family. 2) His ability to preach. 3) Becoming fluent in Chinese in just one year. 4) Leading the Prevention of Child Abuse Division at the Department of Human Resources in Texas. 5) Starting and operating Circle H Camp, a wilderness-based treatment program for boys.

Jonathan was always active in church and the community. He loved traveling, substitute teaching, guest preaching and "grandparent duty." While living at The Villages, he participated in the Colorado Club, Dunedin 200 activities, and enjoyed weekly card games and golf with friends. He was also involved in The Villages High School Booster Club, serving as Vice President one year. Jonathan was a strong swimmer who taught swim lessons throughout his life. To commemorate his birthday each year, he used to swim one length of the pool for every year he had lived. In 2021, he was featured in The Villages Daily Sun for swimming 84 lengths on his birthday.

Jonathan is survived by brother Colonel Douglas Hole of Annapolis, MD; his three children Kristin (Paul) Dellacroce of Colorado Springs, CO; Doran (Angela Lee) Hole of Cohasset, MA; Brandon (Elizabeth) Hole of Darien, CT; and six grandchildren (Nico and Dante Dellacroce; Isabelle and Mathison Hole; Merritt and Elise Hole).

A Memorial Service will be held Saturday, March 29, at Holy Trinity Episcopal Church in Fruitland Park, FL. The service will begin at 2pm EST, and it will also be livestreamed and available later in the church's video archives: https://www.facebook.com/holytrinityfruitlandpark. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Big Brothers Big Sisters of America: https://www.bbbs.org.