Doris Anna Holden

Doris Anna Holden nee Hollingsworth, 92, of Ventura, passed away Monday evening, December 9, 2013, following a prolonged illness. She was born June 11, 1921, to LeRoy Lawrence Hollingsworth and Vera Augusta Hollingsworth nee Gallagher, in Kenansville, Florida. In 1923, her parents relocated from Florida to Ventura when Doris was two years old and she has been a Ventura resident ever since.

Doris met her future husband, John G. “Jack” Holden, in 1935 and they married in 1940 to begin a happy marriage partnership that lasted 57 years.

She was a stay-at-home mother for their three children until they were well established in school at which time Doris went to work for the Ventura Unified School District as the clerk for the elementary schools’ nurses. Her job allowed her to work while school was in session and still be home when her children were home.

Doris was an active member of the First Baptist Church, a founding member of their “Dunamite” class. Doris and her friend, Voda Bottomley, acted as wedding coordinators for the church, made weekly flower arrangements for Sunday services, organized and cooked for banquets and receptions at the church for many years.

She is survived by her son and daughter-in-law, Jim and Terri Holden of Ventura and their daughters, Mari Holden of Del Mar, CA and Tami DiPiazza, and her husband, Fabri, of Washington, D.C.; son and daughter-in-law, Bruce and Barbara Holden of Ventura and their daughters, Jennifer Case and her husband, Chris of Camarillo, CA (their children, Kailey and Tyler) and Jessica Luna of Ventura (her children, Nicolas and Savannah); daughter and son-in-law, Louise and Gary Culver of Oak View, CA and their sons, Damion Holden and his wife, Vanessa of Oxnard, CA (their daughter, Samantha) and Jared Culver of Oak View, CA. Doris was preceded in death by her husband, Jack; her parents; and her brother, Lawrence LeRoy “Larry” Hollingsworth.

For the last several years of Doris’ life, she experienced progressive memory loss which was very distressing for her, but she maintained her good humor and cheerful disposition to the end.

The family would like to thank the staff at Brady’s Butterfly Inn, where Doris lived, for their loving and kind attention to her needs during the last years of her life.

A Memorial Service will be held on Thursday, December 19, 2013, 7:00 pm, at Ted Mayr Funeral Home, 3150 Loma Vista Road, Ventura.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions may be made to Coastline Bible Church, 426 Mills Road, Ventura, or a charity of your choice.

Arrangements are under the direction of the Ted Mayr Funeral Home.