William Raymond Holloway, Jr., age 89, of 1106 Jackson River Turnpike, Hot Springs, Virginia died Thursday, March 16, 2017 at his residence. He was born December 8, 1927, in Hampton, Virginia, to the late William Raymond Holloway, Sr. and Earsie Forrest Holloway. He served in the United States Army and was a 1952 graduate of the NASA Aeronautical Apprentice School, receiving honors in the pyrotechnic program. In 1944 he began a distinguished 32 year career with NASA, becoming an aeronautical engineer and technician, Methods Writer and worked in Quality Assurance of Government Contracts. He was an expert mathematician, and a metal model maker. In 1963, he built the first drone. During his distinguished career with NASA, he traveled extensively throughout the United States and Canada, including the Arctic. He was instrumental in the research and development of the 1969 Apollo II moon landing space craft. He was also assigned to the development, research and testing of the Mars Landing of the Viking Space Craft in 1975. He also worked with the Wallops Island flight and testing program and NASA research and development at Langley Air Force Base. He was a liaison with foreign engineers visiting the United States hoping to develop space programs in their own countries. He was a former member of his home church, Trinity United Methodist Church in Poquoson, a charter member of St. Luke United Methodist Church in Yorktown and Eden United Methodist Church in Hot Springs. He was also a member of the American Legion Holloway-Moore Post 92 and the National Rifle Association .In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a sister, Glenda Shaw. He is survived by his wife of 69 years, Jessie Janet Broce Holloway of Hot Springs; a foster daughter, Tina Roberts; a brother, Kenneth F. Holloway of Great Bridge; two brothers-in-law, Reid Broce and wife Katie of Richmond, and Eddie McCallister and wife Claudia of Hot Springs; two sisters-in-law, Amy Buettner of Texas, and Shirley Broce, of Florida; a number of loving and caring nieces and nephews; special relatives, Patty and John Hazelwood, Sarah Hall, Bill and Sue George, and David and Becky George; and special caregivers, Mike Deaner, Josh Deaner, and Tabby Cook. A graveside funeral service will be held on Saturday, March 18, 2017 at 2:00 PM in Alleghany Memorial Park, Low Moor with Reverend R. Spencer Broce and Reverend David T. George officiating. Pallbearers will be Todd Borchers, Mike Deaner, Josh Deaner, Joseph Pritt, Roy Pritt, and Bartlett Ailstock. Friends may gather at the gravesite prior to the service. Nicely Funeral Home, Clifton Forge is handling arrangements. The family suggests memorial tributes take the form of contributions to the Wounded Warrior Project. To send condolences to the family online, please visit www.nicelyfuneralhome.com.