Judith Smith-Holland Loving Military Wife, and Mother dies at 82
February 17, 1942 — August 21, 2024
Judith (Judy) Smith-Holland, age 82 of Winter Haven, Florida, passed away at Winter Haven Hospital on Wednesday, August 21, 2024, while fighting her ongoing battle with heart disease which finally took her life.
She was born in Pensacola, Florida, a daughter of the late Fred W. and Vivian Smith. Judy grew up in Pensacola, and was educated in Pensacola schools, graduated from Pensacola High School, class of 1959. On September 1, 1961 , she married Richard A. Holland, an E-6 in the United States Navy stationed at Whiting Field in Milton, Florida. Together they raised a family as devoted servants of our country, continually moving throughout their military life. They thrived in places like Lemoore, California; Oahu, Hawaii; Naples, Italy; and Jacksonville, Florida, with a final move to Winter Haven, Florida where they remained an integral part of a wonderful neighborhood and community. Judy’s heart was most devoted to family, and a lifetime of being a military wife where she spent hours volunteering with support for US servicemen and POW’s and MIA’s as well as their families and loved ones. When her husband and others’ spouses were out to sea for six months or more, Judy would help with creating Christmas videos to send to those men and women serving on US ships. These videos provided morale and hope to those at sea over the holidays. Judy helped with other volunteer projects while lovingly parenting two small children, many times alone, throughout her husband’s military career of 23 years. She was an avid supporter of all her children’s activities and sporting events as they were growing up and that same support continued in recent years with her grandchildren as well.
Judy was a loving, devoted and hardworking wife, mother and grandmother who will be dearly missed.
She leaves behind: her husband of 63 years, Richard A. Holland; her son — Richard (Rick) Holland and wife Nicole formerly of Winter Haven, FL; daughter, Cynthia Holland-Gonya and husband, Peter of Newbury, NH; grandchildren — Chandler Holland and wife Grace, Lauren Lengel and husband Matt, Seth and Nicole Gonya; and one great granddaughter, Everly Lengel. She is also survived by sister in law, Lida Holland-Rich and brother in law, George Holland, as well as many nieces and nephews.
Judy was preceded in death by her father, Fred W. Smith; mother, Vivian Smith; and her sister, Carol Miller.
A funeral service will be held Wednesday August, 28, 10 am at the First Church of the Nazarene, 560 3rd Street SW, Winter Haven, FL with 9 am visitation for family. A private, family burial service at Florida National Cemetery, 6502 SW 102nd Avenue, Bushnell, FL, will be held on a later date. In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting donations be made to Tunnel To Towers Foundation t2t.org (http://t2t.org/)
