Obituary of Harlon Holden

Harlon Holden, 87, of Greenhill, passed away at his residence on September 2, 2009, after an extended illness. He was a member of Stutts Road Church of Christ, a U. S. Army Veteran of World War II, and a retired steelworker from Union Carbide Corp. Survivors include his children, Ray and Norma Carpenter, Florence, Lexie and Sheila Holden, Greenhill, grandchildren, Mark and Kim Baldwin, Ooltewah, TN., Barry and Bridget Holden, Lexington, Chad and Julia Beth Holden, Greenhill, Brett and Natlie Frazier, Huntsville, Ray Carpenter, Pensacola, FL., great-grandchildren, Harlon Baldwin, Brady Holden, Avery Holden, Conner Holden, Zane Frazier, and Quin Frazier, one brother, W.D. Holden, Killen, and several nieces and nephews. Visitation will be Friday, Sept. 4, from 5:00-8:00pm at Greenhill Funeral Home. The funeral service will be Saturday at 10:00 A.M. at the funeral home with Bro. Charles Kretzer and Bro. Tim Grigsby officiating. Burial will follow in Canerday Cemetery with full military honors. Pallbearers: Barry Holden, Chad Holden, Mark Baldwin, Bobby Thigpen, Jimmy Clemmons, Wade Abernathy, Benji Mason, and Dustin Wilson. Honorary pallbearers: Harlon Baldwin, Brady Holden, Avery Holden, and Conner Holden. Mr. Holden was an avid coon hunter, and was born in Lauderdale County. He was known affectionately by his family as "Paw Paw". He was a decorated veteran of the United States Army, reporting for duty in December, 1942 at Ft. McClellan. He served honorably in the European Theater of World War II for nearly two years, at one point serving for nine and half consecutive months on the front line. He participated in major combat operations in Northern France and Central Europe, including Normandy, the Ardennes, and the Rhineland. At the Battle of the Bulge, he served as a machine gunner and later in field artillery in a unit led by General George Patton. Honors received include The Silver Star, The Good Conduct Medal, The American Service Medal, and The European African Middle Eastern Service Medal. He was preceded in death by his wife, Elliott Canerday Holden, parents, Donald and Maggie Collier Holden, brothers Connie, Jesse, Luther, Hiram, Raymond, Arthur, and Louis Holden, and sisters, Mary Elizabeth Abernathy, Della Canerday, and Dorothy Mae Holden. The family would like to thank two special caregivers, Brenda and Ruth Reeves, for their devotion to Paw Paw. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Hospice of the Shoals. Greenhill Funeral Home is directing.