Fred Certain Holt

The first child of Ralph & Oma Holt, Fred was born at the family home on December 7, 1935. Over the next fifteen years, he was joined by his four siblings, Joe, Susan, Nancy, and Charles.

Raised in the Jordan-Johnson community, Fred graduated from Jordan Vocational High School in 1954 where he was a proud member of the award-winning marching band led by Bob Barr. His family was active at Sherwood Presbyterian Church, where he met his future wife and lifetime partner, Quincy Sue Ellerbee.

Fred attended Auburn University as a US Naval Aviation Cadet studying mechanical engineering. Sue also attended Auburn as an early-childhood education student and the couple married after her graduation on December 21, 1957 at Sherwood Presbyterian.

Fred began his 21-year career as a United States Naval Aviator in August, 1958. Upon completion of his flight training in Corpus Christi, TX, Pensacola and Jacksonville, FL, Fred earned his Wings of Gold and was assigned to two anti-submarine warfare squadrons as a patrol plane commander including VP-16 (P-2V aircraft, Norfolk VA) and VP-6 (P-3A aircraft, Barbers Point, HI). He attended the Naval postgraduate School in Monterey, CA and later served as Communications Officer aboard the aircraft carrier, CV-67 John F. Kennedy (Norfolk, VA). He briefly served at the Pentagon before receiving his next flying assignment at VXE-6 (LC-130 aircraft, Point Mugu, CA) where he was promoted to Commanding Officer of this unique squadron. VXE-6 flew ski-equipped aircraft in support of National Science Foundation efforts in Antarctica. His final assignment took the family to Milwaukee, WI where he served as Commanding Officer of the Navy Recruiting District for the Great Lakes Region.

While serving as a distinguished naval officer, he earned several honors including: Navy Meritorious Service Medal, Navy Commendation Medal, Navy Unit Commendation Medal, Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation (2 stars), National Defense Medal, Vietnam Service Medal (1 star), Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (Korea), and Antarctic Service Medal. Following Operation Deep Freeze 1976, Fred, was honored to have a mountain on Alexander Island, Antarctica named after him (Mount Holt).

During their Navy career, Fred and Sue brought four children into the world: David Michael (1958, Corpus Christi, TX), Kenneth Andrew (1960, Columbus, GA), Amy Sue (1962, Jacksonville, FL) and Nancy Ellen (1964, Norfolk, VA). As a dedicated Navy wife, Sue worked tirelessly to raise the family of four by herself during those times when Fred was deployed all over the world. He and his children are eternally grateful for her loving commitment through those difficult Navy years. Fred retired from the Navy on September 30, 1977 and returned home to Columbus.

For the next 22 years, Fred used his mechanical engineering and management skills to help grow his father’s heating and air conditioning business, Holt Service Company. With the help of several family members and dedicated employees, the company grew to become one of the largest and most well-respected businesses of its type in the Chattahoochee Valley area. During his HVAC career, Fred helped form and serve as President of the Conditioned Air Association of Georgia. Fred retired from the HVAC industry in 1999 with the sale of the business to an Atlanta-based company.

Before and during his second retirement, Fred remained dedicated to serving others through his church and volunteer work with Edgewood Presbyterian Church, Flint River Presbytery, Navy League of the United States, Columbus Exchange Club, Second Harvest Food Bank, Columbus Soapbox Derby Association, and many other worthwhile causes.

Fred is survived by his loving wife of 62 years, Sue; his son, David (Kelly), Midland, GA; his son, Andy, Columbus, GA; his daughter, Amy (Rodney) Spear, West Point, GA; his daughter, Ellen (Allen) Posey, Midland, GA; his brother, Joseph (Karen) Holt, Sioux Falls, SD; his sister, Susan Brannan, Columbus, GA; and a long list of nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Fred’s ten grandchildren are Steven (Kelsey) Holt, Cumming, GA; Jennifer Holt, Boston, MA; Jessica Holt (Matt) Hughes, San Diego, CA; Allison Holt (Brandon) Blankenship, Winston-Salem, NC; Quincy Holt, Athens, GA; Stephanie Spear (Brady) Barron, Columbus, GA; Emily Spear (Chandler) Cronic, Fortson GA; Chris Posey, Midland, GA; Brian Posey, Honolulu, HI; and Amanda Posey (Nate) Higgs, Olympia, WA.

Fred was also blessed with five great-grandchildren: Reagan, Madison, Jackson, and Hayes Hughes (San Diego, CA) and Carter Cronic (Fortson, GA).

Fred was preceded in death by his parents, Ralph (1993) and Oma (2008), his sister, Nancy Adams (2018), and his brother, Charles (2017).

A special thanks goes out to Carrie Johnson, the Preferred Hospice Care team, and the Muscogee Home Health team for all their support over the past several months. In addition, Fred’s nephew, Rick Brannan, earned several more jewels in his crown for his selfless assistance during his uncle’s final weeks.

The family will receive visitors on Friday, October 30, 2020 from 5:00pm to 7:00pm at Striffler-Hamby Mortuary, 4071 Macon Road, Columbus, GA 31907.

A graveside service will be held on Saturday, October 31, 2020 at 11:00am at Park Hill Cemetery, 4161 Macon Road, Columbus GA 31907.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Edgewood Presbyterian Church, 3617 Macon Road, Columbus, GA 31907, www.epclife.com, in Fred Holt’s honor.

Fair winds and following seas, Commander Holt.

Well done my good and faithful servant.