Martha Jo Holden, 96, passed away on Thursday, Nov. 3, 2011 in Austin, Texas. She was born Oct. 5, 1915, to John D. and Ruth Harber near Goforth in Hays County, Texas. She attended schools in Austin.
Jo met Leo Holden at Manchaca Baptist Church as a young adult, and after Leo returned from the Air Force on Oct. 20, 1945, following World War II, they were married one week later on Oct. 27, 1945 and were happily married 66 years and a week before her death.
Jo will be welcomed into heaven by her dogs Roxie, Hank and Dottie; cat Simon and squirrel Bimbo. Sylvester and Lucy, her beloved cats already miss her.
Survivors include husband Leo V. Holden and two cousins, Etta Ruth Ellis of Reedville and Ella Marie Byrd of Georgetown.
Funeral services were held Nov. 7 at Manchaca Baptist Church and burial followed at Live Oak Cemetery.
Special thanks to the doctors and staff at St. David’s ICU and 5th floor for the care and comfort they provided in the last two weeks. Special thanks also to Carly Bassett, Tracy King and Shannon Kerr of Hospice Austin who cared for Jo while in the hospital. Leo acknowledges the special care and comfort provided by Mike and Kathy Halbert and Joy Simmons.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to the Leo and Jo Holden Scholarship Fund, a fund providing assistance to direct family descendants attending schools of higher education. Contact Joy Simmons, P. O. Box 963, Manchaca, TX 78652.
