Patricia Taylor Holder

 Patricia (Patty) Ann Taylor Holder

Patty Holder, 77, passed away August 19, 2024. She was born September 5, 1946, in Hammond, Indiana, and grew up in DeLand, Florida. Patty returned to Jacksonville Beach with her husband, Gordon Holder, in 2012.

Patty graduated from Deland High School in 1964, attended Daytona Beach Junior College, and graduated from Florida State University in 1969 with a degree in Elementary Education. Her early teaching career was in Deland and Jacksonville, FL; Charleston, SC; and Newport, RI as she followed her husband’s Navy career. After her children were born, Patty taught school as a substitute teacher in various Navy locations. Later in life, she served as Ombudsman to the Commander, Seventh Fleet during Desert Shield and Desert Storm (1990-91). Returning to the United States for follow on assignments, she was the Captain’s and then Admiral’s wife leading various wives organizations in Norfolk, Virginia, Washington DC, and Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. In Washington, DC, she served as Chairman of the Navy Relief Society Charity Ball, and volunteered for the White House Comment line, serving for Presidents G.W. Bush and Obama. 

After her husband’s retirement from the Navy, she moved to Jacksonville, Florida to be near her daughters and two beautiful granddaughters. Patty was always an ardent FSU Seminole fan and enjoyed attending as many FSU events as possible throughout her life. Patty was a member of the Alpha Omicron Pi Sorority at FSU. She encouraged everyone to laugh and enjoy the moments of life wherever she was. 

She was tenacious in her defense of her family and Nation. She was a proud Catholic mother and always wanted to be with all her girls!

Patty is survived by her adoring husband of 54 years, Vice Admiral Gordon Holder, USN (Ret), daughters Ann Marie Blanchard and Jennifer Lynn Gomer, granddaughters Laira and Kali Gomer, and sons in law Paul Gomer and Brian Blanchard.

A Visitation will take place from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Monday, August 26, 2024, in Quinn-Shalz Funeral Home located at 3600 3rd Street South, Jacksonville Beach, Florida.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 am, Tuesday, August 27, 2024, at St Paul’s Catholic Church with Reverend Valan Irudayanathan as Celebrant. She will be interred at the Jacksonville National Cemetery.