Rick Walther Hollister, 68, of Macungie, died October 5, 2012, after a two year battle with brain cancer. He was the husband of Marilee Elizabeth Skinner Hollister. They were married 44 years last February. He was the son of the late Edwin S. and Elfrieda "Willy" Hollister.

He graduated from Dieruff High School in 1962 as first state champion, first all-American swimmer, attended Annapolis Naval Academy and Bloomsburg State College.

He served on active duty in the U.S. Navy from Feb. 1963 until March, 1967.

He achieved his status as A-1 machinist at General Electric Co., Allentown. He worked as a research and development model maker and mold maker for Beckman Coulter, Miami, Fla. from 1979-2000 and retired January, 2011, from B. Braun Medical, Allentown.

He was an avid boater for over 50 years, including captain of his 43-foot motor yacht on which he, his wife and dogs lived for more than six years in Miami Beach, Fla. In 2000, he and his wife brought the boat up the Intracoastal Waterway to a marina in Northeast, Md. and then took up residence in Macungie.

He is survived by his wife; daughter, Lisa Marie and her husband Lisle Houston Engle; granddaughter, Samantha Marie Engle, all of West Hollywood, Calif.; sister, Kim Rose Ksyniak; nephew, Joe Ksyniak and family of Old Town, Maine; mother-in-law, Marie Arndt Skinner of Macungie; brother-in-law, Ric Skinner of Sturbridge, Mass.; nieces, nephews and cousins.

Memorial contributions may be made to Downtown Sailing Center, 1425 Key Highway, Suite 110, Baltimore, Md. 21230 or http://downtownsailing.org/communityoutreach.

A memorial service will be held 3 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 21 in Concordia Lutheran Church, 2623 Brookside Road, Macungie, 18062. Arrangements were made by the Pearson Funeral Home, Bethlehem.