Lee Gordon Holman

On Tuesday, October 6, 2026, Lee Holman passed away at the age of 75. He was a devoted husband to Dianne, a loving father to his daughters, Shannon Smith Mitchell and Dawn Smith Wolf, and a proud “Pops” to his eight grandchildren.

Lee was born on October 25, 1950, in Detroit, Michigan, the youngest of four children of Vernon and Helene Holman. After high school, he joined the United States Army and trained as an Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) technician. He served his country for 25 years and retired as a Sergeant Major. His service included a combat tour in Vietnam and two tours in Germany. He received many honors, including the Legion of Merit and the Bronze Star. After the Army, Lee went on to work as an operations manager and a certified real estate appraiser.

Lee loved life and loved his family even more, and he was always proud of what they achieved. He was a certified Master Judge for the Georgia and Florida BBQ Associations and a certified judge for the Kansas City Barbeque Society. He also found deep meaning in visiting veterans in hospice care, giving them friendship, comfort, and the company of someone who understood. Lee loved fast cars and owned plenty of them over the years. Golf may not have been his best game, but he loved it, and he kept going back to the course determined to get better. He especially enjoyed playing in the Lake Ashton Blue Man Golf League and treasured the friendships and fun he found there. Some of his happiest times were spent on the water with Dianne, whether they were cruising the quiet lake by the home they shared for 24 years or sailing to places around the world.

Lee was preceded in death by his father, Vern; his mother, Helene; and his sister, Carol. He is survived by his wife, Dianne; his sisters, Kay Holman Brown and Debbie Holman Bridge; his daughters, Shannon and Dawn; his grandchildren, Chandler, Chaz, Caleb, Carson, Carter, Cooper, Jaxon, and McCall; and many nieces and nephews.

Lee will be cremated and laid to rest at Bushnell National Cemetery. Every year since the EOD Warrior Foundation’s flag program began at Bushnell, Lee and Dianne placed flags on the graves of EOD soldiers, sailors, Marines, and airmen. Now Lee joins his fellow EOD technicians there, and he will be honored with a flag of his own.

Lee will be laid to rest at Florida National Cemetery on Friday, October 30, 2026 at 9:30 AM. A Celebration of Life will be held on the same day from 5:00-7:00 PM at the Lake Ashton HFC located at 6052 Pebble Beach Blvd., Winter Haven, FL 33884. Please RSVP for the Celebration of Life to Dawn Smith at 656-227-0889.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Lee's memory may be made to the Orlando Fisher House: https://www.orlandofisherhouse.org/how-you-can-help#Donate