Joseph Arnold Holder, Jr

Mr. Joseph Arnold "Bobby" Holder, Jr., 82, of 3311 Old Highway 601, Mount Airy, passed away Wednesday afternoon, January 5, 2011, at his home. Mr. Holder was born April 29, 1928, in Surry County, son of the late Joseph Arnold Holder, Sr. and Lala Beamer Holder. Bobby served our country in the United States Army during World War II. He retired from Pine State Knitwear after many years of service and was a member of Community Baptist Church. Leaving to cherish his memories are his wife of 13 years, Sally Atkins Holder of the home; a daughter and son-in-law, Robyn and Dr. Steve Atkins of Punta Gorda, FL; a son and daughter-in-law, Ricky and Sharon Holder of Sutherlin, OR; a stepson and his wife, Terry and Tammy Simpson of Mount Airy; four grandchildren, Corey Holder of Kernersville, Blake Atkins and his fiancée, Megan Atkins, of Christiansburg, VA, Erich Atkins of Nashville, TN, and Katie Holder of California; a stepgrandson, PFC T.C. Simpson, currently serving in the United States Army in South Korea; an "adopted" granddaughter, Julie Crotts of Mount Airy; a brother and sister-in-law, Tommy and Mattie Holder of Mount Airy; the mother of his children, Elvie Hawks Holder of Mount Airy; and two special cousins, Cleo Jefferson of Mount Airy and Gail Bauguess of Dobson. In addition to his parents, Mr. Holder was preceded in death by three sisters, Linda Hutchens, Opal Simmons, and Lillian Midkiff; and three brothers, Kerry Holder, Gray Holder, and Ed Holder. The funeral service will be held Saturday, January 8, 2011, at 2:00 PM at Community Baptist Church, with the Rev. Kenneth Jessup, the Rev. Joey Jessup, and the Rev. Curtis Hawks officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery, with military honors by the VFW Memorial Honor Guard. The family will receive friends Friday from 6:00 until 8:00 PM at Moody Funeral Home in Mount Airy, where his body will remain until carried to the church to lie-in-state 30 minutes prior to the funeral service. Memorial contributions may be made to the Joan and Howard Woltz Hospice Home, 945 Zephyr Road, Dobson, NC 27017.