A memorial service honoring the life of John David Holder, formerly of Lytle, will be held at the Lytle Methodist Church on December 14 at 11 am. He passed away peacefully at the age of 74 on November 12, 2019 in Missouri with his loving wife Carol Sue Holder by his side.
Born in San Antonio on May 29, 1945, Holder was raised on a dairy farm in nearby South town. He joined the Air Force in 1965, and served during the Vietnam era. Holder then began working in the oil fields of Atascosa, Medina, and Bexar Counties along with his father. He was a respected businessman operating many wells in the Lytle area, a family business carried on by his sons.
He enjoyed working side by side with his sons and grandsons, and taught many boys how to use a wrench and dig a ditch. He believed deeply in the value of hard work stating, “There’s nothing like doing a good job.”
He also enjoyed farming and fishing and playing with grandkids in his later years.
He was also instrumental in the beginning of Benton City Water, bringing clean drinking water to hundreds of homes that previously depended on well water. He helped secure the grants necessary to provide this water service, and worked directly with engineers. He also served on the board of Benton City Water for seven years from 1989-1996.
In his later years, he enjoyed charity work to help the less fortunate and homeless. He especially enjoyed making candles for the homeless. In fact, he made truckloads of candles that were handed out in shelters in the Missouri area throughout this thoughtful project. He also took time to work in shelters providing clothing and food to the less fortunate. A beautiful service was held this past Saturday, December 16 at Outreach Restoration Church in Missouri.
Holder was very generous and donated to families in need many times throughout his life. In one particular instance we can re-call, Mr. Holder sent several thousand dollars to a local Medina County family whose home was destroyed in the tornadoes that ripped through Devine. They were complete strangers–he had never even met the family of five, and it is just a beautiful example of how his generosity has impacted the lives of so many others.
He is survived by his loving wife Carol Sue Holder; children Tim Holder and wife Lorna of Lytle, James Holder of Austin, Christy Carey and husband Greg, John Daniel Holder and wife Kayleen of Devine, Casey Holder and wife Lindsay of Indiana, Sheri Brisner, Greg Brisner and wife Amy; grandchildren: Tristan Inocencio, Tristen, Drake, and Nathan Holder, A’Dell, and John Tucker Holder, Maddie Peterson, McKenzie and Matthew Simmons; siblings: Albert A Holder (and Patricia Holder) of Pharr TX, Linda Faye Holder of Cheyenne WY, Sara Michaels (and Kenneth Michaels) of Chilton TX; and Aunts Deverine Hostetler of Elmendorf, Tx and Aunt Iva Gene Davis of Independence, MO, and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins.
He is preceded in death by his parents Albert F. Holder and Mildred Bonnet Holder and brother Timothy M Holder.
Mr. Holder’s ashes will be buried back home near the oil fields he worked for so many years, side by side with loved ones and friends.