O'Dell Holden

O'Dell Holden, 86, passed away on Wednesday, July 18, 2012, in Wilcox Hall at Wellmont Holston Valley Medical Center after a courageous battle with cancer. He was born in Roda, VA on November 13, 1925 to Omer Holden and Sara Russell Holden, but has called Sullivan County his home most of his life. O'Dell was a member of Walkers Fork Baptist Church in the Lone Star Community. He retired from J. P. Stevens after many years of service.
O'Dell loved to hunt and fish but farming was his true passion. He was a long time member of the Fifty-Five Club and the Loyal Order of the Moose, Kingsport Chapter. O'Dell was devoted to his wife of 63 years Jean Holden and grieved for her after her death in 2011. He was a loving Father to his eight children and will be missed by his loving family and friends.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Jean Holden; his father, Omer Holden; stepmother, Una Holden; mother, Sara Holden Bowman and stepfather, Butch Bowman; brothers, Carroll Holden and W.B. Bowman; son in-law, Jeffery Mitchell and grandson Dustin Mitchell.

O'Dell is survived by his children, Steve Holden, Sandra Light and husband, Rick, Kathy Mitchell, Danny Holden and wife, Becky, John Holden and companion, Helen Gibson, Lisa Holden and companion, Gary Ball, Garry
Holden, Larry Holden and companion, Cindy Rollins; grandchildren, Tonya McDavid, Chris Arndt, Shannon Mitchell, Zane Holden, Sara Valdez, Jessie Holden, Ben Holden, Lindsey Holden and Rachel Grubb; nine
great-grandchildren and two great great-grandchildren; sister, Helen Westmoreland; sisters-in-law, Hazel Holden, Barbara Morelock and husband, Ed; brothers-in-law, J.C. Steadman, Robert Steadman , Orville Steadman
and wife, Wanda, J.D. Steadman and wife, Shirley. He also leaves behind several nieces and nephews.

The family will receive friends from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday at Hamlett-Dobson Funeral Home, Kingsport. A funeral service will follow at 7 p.m. with Pastor Kelly Dykes officiating.

Graveside services will be conducted at 11 a.m. on Saturday at Tri-Cities Funeral Home & Memory Gardens, Hwy 75 Airport Road. Family and friends who wish to attend are asked to meet at the cemetery at 10:45 a.m.