Frank Samuel Holder

February 26, 1926 - August 8, 2008

Frank Samuel Holder, age 82, passed away on August 8, 2008, at his home in Tucson, Arizona, following a valiant battle with melanoma. Frank was known in Rocky Ford as a leader in the community, as well as the co-founder of Griffin-Holder Company and Frozen Foods, Inc. Known for his positive energy, outgoing personality and strong Christian faith, Frank was respected and admired by all. Frank was an exemplary contributor to the lives of many and to the wide circle of friends and that he so cheerfully blessed throughout his abundant life. Frank battled melanoma cancer for 3 ½ years. A believer in faith healing, Frank believed until the very last week of his life, he would manifest a healing. He fought the extended battle using the best of medicine, prayer, and holistic nutrition. He maintained great optimism in his cure and implemented a raw vegetarian lifestyle, supplemented by his his famed daily ritual of "eating onions every day." Even though metastatic melanoma is the fastest spreading form of cancer, it was these practices that Frank believed extended his life. Frank passed away peacefully in his sleep and without pain. His family speculates that he waited until 08/08/08, an auspicious day on the Chinese calendar, so that he could visit the opening ceremony of the Olympics. Frank was born in Rocky Ford, Colorado on February 6, 1926 to Carl and Nora (McKenzie) Holder, at home on 701 N. Chestnut Ave. He attended the old Liberty School, which was located on N. 19th Street. Later, when the Holders moved to the Orchard subdivision on E. Washington Avenue, he attended Washington Grade School, which was the location of the present Pioneer Nursing Home. Frank attended Rocky Ford Junior High and High School, located together at the present Sage Center. Frank played on the RFHS basketball,football and track teams. The football field was the locations of the present grandstand for the Arkansas Valley Fair. Frank also participated in high school dramatics, during which he fell in love with a fellow cast member, a young beauty named Greta, which became the real-life drama. Frank married his high school sweetheart, Greta Griffin, in McKinney, Texas in l948. Frank attended University of Arizona, graduating in business and economics in 1951 after a serving 2 years in the Army Air Force. Greta and Frank were married for fifty years, and celebrated their 50th Anniversary at the Rocky Ford Gobin Center in 1998, just prior to Greta's fatal struggle with breast cancer. They raised their three children, Carl, Hal and Holly in Rocky Ford. Holder later retired to Tucson, where he resided with wife of five years, Maxine Fox Holder. After college, Frank returned to Rocky Ford and worked for his father in law, Ike Griffin, in the onion shipping business. Holder and his brother-in-law, Jim Thomas, formed an onion company, Ike Griffin, Holder and Thomas. In 1960, Frozen Foods Inc. was formed with Joe Dunn, where the pearl onion was initially brought to America from Holland, became the supplier for companies like BirdsEye and Green Giant. Later son Carl operated the business. In 1967, Frank became the president of Griffin Holder Co. which is still in operation. Frank retired from the produce business after a rewarding and successful career, where he saw Griffin Holder company grow into one of the nation's largest onion suppliers. Frank was a lifelong Democrat (he was voted "Best Democrat" by his Rocky Ford High School 1944 classmates) and supported many campaigns for Colorado's politicians. In his final days, Frank remained excited about this year's election and promised he would help effectuate the outcome for President by continuing to campaign from Heaven. He and his wife Greta hosted many of the state's politicians in their home, especially during the Arkansas Valley Fair. Frank's concern for the less fortunate continued in his latter years in participating in prison ministry through Kairos Ministry. Holder cited this work as the most important and rewarding of his life. This past March, Holder was ordained as a Stephens Minister, a ministry to the sick and needy. Frank served on the City Council for several terms, and cited with pride his term's successful completion of Babcock Park. He also served on the Public Safety committee, working closely with Chief Chris Lucero. Holder loved Rocky Ford, and was looking forward to returning for Watermelon Day this summer. In April, Frank submitted an article to The Daily Gazette, consisting of his memories of people who have made Rocky Ford a great community over the years, and he encouraged others to continue to support the community with volunteerism and civic participation. Holder noted in the article the volunteerism of his father, Carl Duncan Holder, who chaired the Fair for many years and oversaw the ground's WPA completion. Frank Holder, like his father, was also cited by Rocky Ford Chamber of Commerce as their Volunteer of the Year. Frank also became very active in the Christian community in Rocky Ford. A lifelong member of the United Methodist Church, he would often volunteer to preach as their lay leader. He accepted invitations to talk at many other churches to share his Christian testimony with an infectious enthusiasm. He helped form a men's inter-denominational prayer group, which met on Thursday mornings, and established Sunday worship services for Hispanic workers, evolving into a new local church. Frank was known to stop in mid-conversation, no matter where he was, and pray with that person for healing and answers to their problems. "Nothing is Impossible with God," he would say, and encourage others to "Expect a Miracle." Frank had been inspired by the ministry of Oral Roberts to pray for others with the laying on of hands for healing. His later affiliation with Oral Roberts University as a board member exposed him to the nation's leaders of the Christian charismatic movement. Holder was also known for his belief in taking care of one's personal health with proper nutrition and exercise. He was religious about getting his "aerobics points" every day, and could be seen walking early every morning with friends Doug and Phyllis Brown and Pat and Don Ryan on the Fitness Trail at Babcock Park. Together, they planted fruit trees to beautify the area, and would finish their walk at a certain fitness stop to have prayer together. They came to call this their "Prayer Bench." Last summer they installed a stone bench to replace the worn-out wooden one, and in one of Holder's last visits to Rocky Ford, they planted flowers to beautify the area. Following Holder's service on Tuesday, friends and family will gather at the bench to remember the man whose life exemplified a healthy, positive, prayerful lifestyle. Holder's many associations include: Rocky Ford City Council, Imperial Valley (CA) Sweet Onion Committee, National Onion Association, RF Rotary Club; Oral Roberts Universtiy Board of Regents, Empire State Board of Directors, Pioneer Memorial Hospital Board, First Methodist Church Administrative Board, RF Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, KAIROS Prison Ministry, and Catalina Foothills Church Stephens Ministry (Tucson). In 2002, he authored a small book, "Twenty Nine Miracles and Still Counting…" where he listed many of his life's stories expressed with great gratitude. Holder is survived by his wife, Maxine Fox Holder of Tucson; three children, Carl Holder of Pasco, WA, Hal Holder (Renee) of Rocky Ford, CO, and Hollis "Holly" Holder Galgano (Dennis) of Rye, NY; Carl's daughters, Tamara Holder of Chicago and Stephanie Holder of Denver; Hal's children, Mac Holder of Rocky Ford, Lee Holder of Ft. Collins and Hannah of Tennessee, as well as Renee Holder's children, Jaycee Honey, and Chance Honey and Shaylee Honey, and their daughter, Hope Holder. Holly's three children, Alexandra Galgano of NYC, Christian Galgano and Piper Galgano of Rye, NY; and Maxine Holder's daughter, Letitia Fox Varshavsky (Roman) of Los Angeles, CA. Besides his wife, children and grandchildren, Holder is also survived by his sister Eleanor (Alden) Knapp of Rocky Ford. He is preceded in death by his first wife Greta Griffin Holder and his sister, Mable June (Joe) Lacy of Grand Junction. Memorial services will be held on Tuesday, August 12, 2008 at 9:00 AM in First United Methodist Church. A brief dedication at the "Prayer Bench" at Babcock Park will follow. Inurnment will be private at a later time. In lieu of flowers, the family has requested that memorial contributions be made to: Rocky Ford Public Safety Building Fund, c/o City Hall, 203 S. Main St, Rocky Ford, CO 81067. Arrangements have been entrusted to the Ford-Ustick Funeral Home. Condolences may be sent to [email protected] Holder family welcomes friends and family on Tuesday and Wednesday at Holder's home at 919 Emerson Drive.