October 22, 1938 - June 10, 2024
Robert Perry Holtsford was born October 22, 1938 in his family home in west Tennessee where he grew up. He passed from this life on June 10, 2024 with his daughter by his side. He was preceded in death by his parents, Bob and Pansy Holtsford, his sister, Alice Mae Wills, his brother, Philip Holtsford, and his sister, Carol Ann Brandon. He is survived by his daughter, Laura Holtsford Anderson (Doug), his son Hunter Perry Holtsford, his four grandchildren, Matthew, Alex, Molly, and Sarah, and many beloved nieces and nephews.
Bob grew up in west Tennessee and graduated from Dyersburg High School in 1956 and the University of Tennessee with a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering in 1964. Before attending college, he served as a paratrooper in the 101st Airborne (Screaming Eagles) and was stationed in Fort Campbell, Kentucky, Fort Sill, Oklahoma, and Germany.
Bob's sales career in heavy duty construction equipment took him to Wisconsin, Tennessee, Kentucky, and Georgia. While working for Koehring, he won awards as a top salesman of the district. Other employers included Allied Machinery, Whayne Supply, Burch Lowe, and Atlanta Crane. During his career he also served as chapter president of the Georgia Association of Professional Employer Organization (GAPEO).
Never one to eschew thrills and adventures, Bob lived life to the fullest. He rode bulls and bucking broncos on the rodeo circuit as a young man. He jumped out of airplanes and had over 500 sport parachute jumps. He enjoyed making multi-person formations during free-fall and placed in competitions for formations while free falling and for accuracy when landing. He became a Master Rigger which allowed him to design, make, and repair parachutes. He downhill skied all over the US but most notably the French Alps in Chamonix, France. Bob loved gardening and was known for his hot peppers and homemade barbecue sauces - if you were tough enough to try them. He loved spending time outside watching and feeding the birds and the Koi fish in his ponds.
Bob was known for his keen sense of humor and was always quick with a joke or one-liner that kept everyone around him laughing. He kept that sense of humor even when life gave him nothing to laugh about. Not only was he the life of the party...he WAS the party wherever he went.
Bob made Ohio his home in 2012 so his daughter could provide him additional support. Despite the ravages of Alzheimer's, he continued to cultivate friendships and make people laugh as long as he was able.
Bob's ashes will be scattered in a few of his favorite places. No services will be held.
If you would like to honor Bob's memory, do so by making someone smile.
Donations in his memory to The Alzheimer's Association are appreciated.