Thomas “Tommy” Jerome Holder, Sr., age 93, of Apopka, Florida, was called home by our Lord to claim his reward and place at the Heavenly table on Wednesday, March 25, 2026. Born in Gainesville, Florida to Ellis and Betty Holder, Tommy and his brothers, Ellis, Jr. and Marion, were raised to know and appreciate the meaning of hard work. From the moment he could walk, he was involved in some type of agriculture and found his complete love for the outdoors; specifically rooted in farm life.

Just like his dad and older brothers before him, Tommy joined the Navy in November of 1952, serving honorably on the USS Wasp as a boiler tender in the “Number 1 Fireroom” during the Korean War. Before his discharge in October of 1956, he saw 12 different countries, and was stationed in Japan. He talked about shore leave with two of his favorite memories including; the ability to tour Pompeii and to see Louis Armstrong in concert on his first night in Japan.

He married Sally Ruth Strite on April 23, 1955. After leaving the Navy, they returned to Gainesville and he began a career with Sperry Rand and she with Gulf Life Insurance. Their passion for farm life continued to call, so the two young “Florida Crackers” took over the family cattle farm in Clear Spring, Maryland one year later. As always, with the nature of farming, they experienced good years and lean years. During the lean years Tommy worked at Mack Truck to help provide for his wife and three children. After twelve years of shoveling snow and plowing rocks they moved their family back to rural Orange County, FL and traded cattle for 30,000 laying hens nestled in the middle of the family-owned orange grove. In addition to farming and helping to raise a family, he held various positions at the Zellwood United Methodist Church and ensured that his children and grandchildren received a Christian education. However, more than just an education, he led by example every day. In his older years Tommy never stopped. The saying goes “You do not retire from farming but merely slow down a little”. He found great joy in going to his farm in Hawthorne to feed a new herd of cattle (he decided chickens were too much work). He loved to check the fence lines, bale hay, or just mow something, somewhere. On September 22, 2025, his 93rd birthday, he successfully climbed Stone Mountain in Georgia, for the fourth year in a row, a feat that his family continues to talk about and moments he has claimed to be some of his favorite memories.

Thomas J. Holder, Sr. was preceded in death by his wife, Sally, and his granddaughter, Annette Miller. He is survived by his three children; daughter, Beth Ann Arnold, sons Jerry (Kristi) and Bryan (Michelle); four grandchildren, Peter (Sarah), Kevin (Holly), Austin (Allison) and Jessica (Brady); and seven great grandchildren, Dalan, Christian, River, Sharlene, Gentry, Ellie and Gracie.

Tommy was the very definition of a man who understood the value of family, integrity and hard work. At the center of his life was the love of God, family and country. He had a strong but gentle presence about him that never asked for anything but offered everything he had. He will be remembered as a faithful husband, a loving father, grandpa, great-grandpa and a devoted friend to all who knew and loved him. Whether you knew him fifty years or had only known him for ten minutes, there was an immediate connection and you felt his peaceful and gentle soul.

To us, Dad was the original “Good Man”!