Sammy “Sam” Curtis Holder, 70, of Victoria, Texas, went to be with his Heavenly Father suddenly and unexpectedly on Saturday, July 26, 2025. Sammy was born on July 25, 1955, in Port Lavaca, Texas, to Edwin “Eddie” Curtis Holder and Lucy Theola McCallay Holder of Victoria, Texas. He grew up in Seadrift, Texas, where he was active in school sports and the Boy Scouts, becoming an Eagle Scout. He graduated from Calhoun High School in 1973. Sammy married his high school sweetheart, Sharon Joy Trousdale, on May 31, 1975. They celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary this year. He attended Bible College in Houston, Texas, obtained an associate degree from Victoria College, and a bachelor’s degree from the University of Houston-Victoria. He worked for Harrison, Waldrop, and Uherek in Victoria, Texas, during which he became a Certified Public Accountant. Sammy worked as a comptroller for an air conditioning company in Houston, Texas, taught math classes for a year at Faith Academy, worked for the Texas prison system as an accountant, and as office manager and accountant for Reclamation Counseling Center. He also prepared annual income tax forms for family and some friends before retiring his CPA license.
Sammy was called to preach at the age of 16. He has served God as a youth pastor of 2 Assembly of God Churches, pastored 2 Assembly of God churches, and preached a few revivals, including a brush arbor revival. He was Associate Pastor for the Assembly of God Church in Edna, Texas, with David Murff for a number of years, and has served God with Billy Faltesek as co-pastor of Grace Community Church in Port Lavaca since June 2019. He also served with the Praise Team in song and playing the keyboard. He loved to present God’s Word in a teaching style. Before 2019, he would fill in for pastors whenever they were unable to fill the pulpit due to vacation, illness, family emergency, or just because he was asked. Sammy was ordained on May 4, 2022, in San Antonio, Texas at the 70th Council of The South Texas District of Assemblies of God.
He is survived by his parents, Edwin and Lucy Theola Holder of Victoria, Texas, his wife, Sharon Holder also of Victoria, Texas, his 2 sons, Kenneth Curtis Holder of Laramie, Wyoming, Kevin Anthony Holder of Victoria, Texas, his granddaughter, Raven Christine Holder of Abilene, Texas, his sister, Vicki Melissa Holder Minatrea Caruso (Robert Caruso) of Victoria, Texas, his brother, Shannon Dale Holder (Wendy Colleen Holder) of Victoria, Texas, and several nieces, nephews, grandnieces, and grandnephews. He loved all of them dearly and desired that they accept Christ as their Savior.
He was preceded in death by his brother Sheldon “Shelly” Kristopher Holder and his grandparents, Orville and Ethel Holder, and Samuel and Syvlee McCallay.
The family requests that you join them in celebrating the life that Sammy lived instead of mourning his passing. He is and will be greatly missed. They also desire your prayers for our country, our world, and all our unsaved loved ones and friends.
Visitation will be held Thursday, July 31, 2025, from 6-8 p.m. at Richardson-Colonial Funeral Home Chapel in Port Lavaca, Texas. Funeral Services will be at 10 a.m. on Friday, August 1, 2025, at the same location with Rev. Billy Faltesek of Grace Community Church in Port Lavaca and Rev. David Murff of First Assembly of God Church in Edna presiding. The family will have a private gathering for interment at Greenlawn Gardens at a later date.
Thoughts and memories may be shared at www.richardsoncolonial.com.
