Rick Holdaway

Rick was born in Denver, Colorado on March 13, 1948. He grew up splitting his time between Denver and Eagle, Colorado. After a childhood spent attending thirteen different public schools, he graduated from Denver's North High School. He missed the commencement ceremony to work his shift at a gas station.

He met Dana, his future wife of 55 years, at a Halloween dance in 1964, after his original date cancelled on him. They raised three very normal children on a steady diet of vintage cars, Estes model rockets, Dr. Demento radio programs, and stopping at every single historical roadside marker they encountered on road trips. Thanks to him, their grandchildren know how to use a clutch, and that bears are not piñatas.

He served in the Marine Corps from 1966 to 1972, where he competed on the Marine Corps Pistol Team.

He was working at the Lakeside Montgomery Wards paint counter when he heard that a place called IBM was hiring. He worked at the IBM plant in Boulder for 38-1/2 years, fixing everything. Several of his fixes turned into IBM patents. He wore blue uniform shirts with his name on them for years, but eventually everyone knew him, and he decided to just wear his regular plaid shirts to work.

After retiring, he turned his time to repairing and restoring Model T Fords, and volunteering at the Forney Museum of Transportation, often alongside his grandchildren when their schedules allowed.

Rick loved vintage cars and motorcycles. He loved touring in his Model T's, 4-wheeling old Jeeps in Moab, and driving his 60s Mustangs as nature intended. He only lost his license once, for doing a measly 140 mph in a 40 mph zone, after which the officer asked, “Why'd you stop? I couldn't have caught you.” He responded, “Can I have a do over?”

Rick was a Scout leader, 24 Hours of Le Mans racer, photographer, longtime blood donor, certified scuba diver, volunteer fire fighter, ski patroller, and a member of the Ancient and Honorable Order of Squirrels. According to one waitress in Iowa, he is the inventor of chili cheese fries. He had a personal recipe for chocolate cake, his love of which was only slightly diminished by the mid-life revelation that he was allergic to chocolate.

He couldn't go anywhere in Colorado without running into someone he knew.

He is predeceased by his parents, Reed Holdaway and Hylah Hernandez, and his sister Janet. He is survived by his wife, son Aaron (Don), daughter Janna (Tom), son Brett (Amanda), two grandchildren, his sisters Carly, Nita, Michelle, and Dorene, and his brothers Mark and Pat.

Services will be held August 11 at 10:00am, at 7080 Independence St., Arvada, CO.

RICK’S ONE BOWL CHOCOLATE CAKE

2 cups flour

2 cups sugar

2 teaspoons baking soda

1/2 cup cocoa powder

1/4 teaspoon salt

1 cup oil

1 cup buttermilk

2 eggs

1 cup boiling water

Put flour, sugar, baking soda, cocoa powder, and salt together in bowl and blend. Add oil and buttermilk, and beat slowly while adding eggs. Beat well while adding boiling water. The batter will be very thin. Pour into greased cake pans. Bake at 350 for 35 minutes (12 minutes for cupcakes).