Bob Holden Memorial Service 28 October 2017
17 July 1925...........26 Apr 2017
Our friend and shipmate, Bob Holden, who passed away & whose ashes were laid to rest in the Gulf of Mexico by his family yesterday 28 October 2017. The family had been in touch with Buddy Casale who had often visted with Bob & his wife Betty in Pennsylvania after they relocated due to his wife's health. The family was aware of Bob's close relationship with the Dunedin Coast Guard Auxiliary when he & his wife Betty resided in Clearwater. They decided it would have been their dad's desire to be lain to rest in Florida on the Gulf of Mexico. His wife Betty whose who was the love of his life preceded him in death. Bob spent the last years of his life close to his immediate family but also shared his experiences and friendships he had attained with the Dunedin Flotilla. The family got in touch with Buddy Casale one of Bob's shipmates and close friend & made plans to have their dad's ashes lain to rest down here.
Bob was a friend, shipmate & mentor to many of us. He was always ready to share his experience, talents & he had many. It would be very difficult to find anyone who was in contact with Bob who didn't come away a richer person. He was held in very high regard by his Division 11 shipmates over the years whether it was Search & Rescue, Public Education, Navigation etc. There is a biography below that I highly recommend you read. I feel it is safe to say we are all richer for having known Bob & been his friend over the years.
The ceremony on 28 October 2017 speaks volumes of the high regard Bob Holden was held. We had 7 Auxiliary vessels, Coast Guard 45 boat from Station Sand Key & a C-130 Aircraft flyover from Coast Guard Air Station Cleawater. We rendezvoused at Tarpon Springs Park on the Anclote River. The family boarded Aux Vessel B4-IV coxswain Harvey Prior, crew Kristi Mackey, Wally Weakley & Buddy Casale. We departed the park escorted by the 7 Auxiliary vessels we would rendezvous with the Coast Guard 45 boat offshore at 28 08N, 082 54W with the vessels at rest a ceremony was performed aboard B4-IV then the ashes were displaced along with a wreath and flowers by the family.
We had a planned luncheon afterward with the family at the VFW Post 2550 in Dunedin. I would like to take this opportunity to thank Post 2550 for their hospitality especially Post 2550 Commander Dennis Brogan, Chaplain Alan Roman & Angela Taylor, Kitchen Manager. The commander & Chaplain eulogized Bob as a past veteran of foreign wars. Angela Taylor was just so helpful for getting the buffet set up & went the extra mile by making up a delicious punch. The staff at the post could'nt do enough for us & availed us of a viewing projector so we could run some slide shows from the lap top. We spent a wonderful afternoon sharing stories of Bob with the kids growing up & we shared our stories of Bob in the Auxiliary. I just know Bob was looking down upon all of us with a big smile with his arm around the love of his life, wife Betty.
Bob's Biography
Bob's Family Boarding B4-IV The Holden Family Aboard
Bob's sons boarding VFC Kristi Mackey aboard B4-IV Harvey Prior at helm
