It is with great sadness that the Holland family announces the death of David Eugene Holland.
He had a terminal heart condition and passed in the early morning of June 14, 2022, at the age
of 86, in his home with his wife, Zoia, and his daughter, Donna, by his side.
David was the youngest of nine children born to David Almon Holland and Laura Mary Burns on
May 6, 1936 in Sneads, FL.
At the age of 19 he met the love of his life, Zoia Avery, when she was 13. Her parents told him
to come back in a few years, which he did. They were married on February 4, 1958, and
celebrated their 64th wedding anniversary this year.
David worked for St. Regis Papermill for 15 years and the Pensacola Millwright Union No. 2471
as an expert welder, millright and mechanic for 45 years. He was a gifted welder and worked
throughout the U.S. on special projects including the NASA launch pad at Cape Canaveral.
David is survived by his saintly wife, Zoia; his children David Holland, who inherited his love of
hunting and fishing, and Donna Dunn (Dr. Russell Dunn) who inherited his adventurous spirit
and love for the outdoors; five grandchildren, Denver Holland, Tonya Etheridge (Dr. Matt
Etheridge), Elizabeth Dunn, Catherine Dunn, and Paige Holland; six great-grandchildren,
Jocelynn Griffin, Makalyn Griffin, Ethan Windham, Isabella Gonzalez, Denver Holland II, and
Scarlett Trommelen.
He was a member of Olive Baptist Church and First City Church, where he made his profession
of faith and was baptized.
David loved spending time outdoors from hunting, fishing, camping, bee keeping, horse riding,
raising cattle and hunting dogs to tending his large vegetable garden. Most summers were
spent teaching his children about the bounties of nature on land and water. He loved telling
and “retelling and retelling” of his adventures in the great outdoors.
Relatives and friends are invited to a visitation at Eastern Gate Memorial Funeral Home on
Saturday, June 18, 2022, from 12:00-1:00 pm, followed by a funeral service, from 1:00-2:00pm,
with interment to follow immediately after the service.
In lieu of flowers, gifts may be made to First City Church, Pensacola, FL or Luke 9:2 Ministries,
Nashville, TN.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.EasternGateMemorial.com for the Holland family.
