John J. Holson Jr. died of cancer on Feb. 22, 2003
John J. Holson Jr. died of cancer on Feb. 22, 2003
Mr. Holson, 81, was born in San Francisco on Sept. 7, 1921, and grew up on a 20-acre ranch in Los Altos before moving to Gilroy in 1949. Mr. Holson was active in the Boy Scouts of America and several Gilroy youth groups when raising his children. In 1974, Mr. Holson joined the building department of the city of Gilroy where, as a senior building inspector and consultant, he oversaw the renovation of several city landmarks, including Old City Hall, built in 1906, and the Gilroy Museum.
But it was his service as an Army medic in China, Burma and India during World War II that Mr. Holson was most proud. There he received a special commendation for tending to sick and wounded soldiers who helped regain control of the Burma Road in 1945, a treacherous route stretching across that country which had been captured by Japanese troops and where some of the region’s most ardent fighting took place.
Asia was a far cry from the apricot orchards and grassy fields of Northern California where Mr. Holson attended Mountain View High School and was raised by his Chicago-born mother, Bessie, and his father, John Sr., who had emigrated to the United States from Bohemia in the late 1890s. Like many soldiers who fought then, he returned, got married and began a family. Mr. and Mrs. Holson met on a blind date in August of 1946.
The two exchanged marriage vows in February 1949 and moved to Gilroy. Then Mr. Holson owned a paint store, Holson’s Paint Bucket, but after four years closed the shop and went to work at a local manufacturing company for nearly two decades. He was an expert craftsman, having built the family’s beach house as well as custom furniture for himself and his children.
Mr. Holson was a thoughtful father devoted to his family. They spent summers and holidays at a beach house near Santa Cruz where Mr. Holson, an expert hunter and fisherman, taught his children to fish in nearby ponds. For 35 years he was a member of the Reinosa Hunting Club, a 1,600-acre ranch outside of Tres Pinos.
He is survived by his wife, Gandi, with whom he recently celebrated his 54th wedding anniversary, as well as children Grace Malson, John Holson, twin sons Michael Holson and Vincent Holson, Mary Connolly, 45, twin daughters Gondie Chavez and Frances Hampton, and Laura M. Holson; and seven grandchildren.
Elks services took place Feb. 27 at Habing Family Funeral Home followed by Funeral Mass at St. Mary Church. Burial was at St. Mary Cemetery.
The family asks that any contributions be made to the Trinity County Chamber of Commerce, Feed The Fish Program, attn: Carol Eli, P.O. Box 517, Weaverville, CA, 96093. The phone number is (530) 623-6101.
