Richard Holden

USN Chief PNC Ret. Richard Carroll Holden, was born on May 24th, 1938, in Osceola, Iowa, to Guy Leroy Holden and Louise Fern Carson. He went to the Lord on February 17, 2022, in San Antonio, TX.

He grew up in Osceola and graduated from Osceola High School. He and a group of friends took a farewell trip to Yellowstone, and upon their return he enlisted in the Navy on July 31st, 1956.

He was married to Helen Cordelia “Corky” Karns on January 1st, 1957, at Osceola Christian Church by Reverend Warren Hile. Three sons were born to this union: Richard, Mike, and John.

Richard was stationed at bases along the eastern seaboard. He served on the USS Bushnell, the USS Wasp, the USS Howard Gilmore, and the USS Compass Island. He was TDY in Iceland, in Malta twice, and was also stationed in Sydney, Australia, where he was mission attached to the USS Canberra and greeted active Vietnam RRH military. He retired in San Antonio on January 22nd, 1976.

He attended St. Philip’s College, then went to work for Bexar County Appraisal where he retired after fifteen years. After retirement, he went into the cattle business with his friend Clemens Eckhard until Clem’s death in January, 2004.

Richard was an excellent pool player, and also played golf until his knee surgery. He enjoyed playing volleyball when he was younger and continued to watch the sport on television. Mysteries of all kinds interested him, and he enjoyed watching documentaries on the subject. He was an avid reader.

Richard was baptized in the Presbyterian Church in North Charleston, SC. He did not attend church but read and studied the Bible daily and had his own personal relationship with God.

Relatives who preceded him in death were his parents, sister Phyllis, brothers Ron (Pauline) and Merlin (Nancy), in-laws Gerald and Marie (Pace) Karns, sister-in-law Vallie (Karns) Pearcy, brothers-in-law Jay Pearcy, Dale Hart, nephew Jim Pearcy, and niece Terry Fulton.

He is survived by his wife of 65 years; sons Richard (Luann), Mike (Rachele) and John (Linda); grandchildren Jennifer (Pete) Applegate of Frederick, MD, Chris (Wendi), Kenny, Kristina, Ryan, Shawn, Marissa (Dustin) Nolan, all of San Antonio, Melissa (Eric) Zireg of Lunenburg, MA; great-grandchildren Ethan (Courtney) Baker, Logan, Holden, Derek, Abigail, Alexis, Savanna, Christopher, Sienna, Jayden, Noah, Meloney and Mallory.

Also surviving are sister-in-law Maryla (Karns) Hart and nephew Danny Pearcy of Osceola, IA, nephew Ryan (Cindy) Hart of Auburn, ME, nieces Deanna Hart (John) Cobb of Lake Forest, CA, Cathy Holden Parker, Julie Holden-Boswell, Cindy Holden, Becky Holden-Loew, Joni (Wesley) Holden Bos, Rhonda and Guy Holden, cousins Joyce Dodge and Merrill Stubbs of IA.

Burial of cremains will be at Fort Sam Houston Cemetery at a date to be determined, with military honors. Services will be graveside only. No flowers please. Donations may be made to cancer research.