William “Bill” Holden, age 72, passed away peacefully after a long illness on February 10, 2026 at his home in Richmond, Va., surrounded by his loving family and entered into the presence of his Lord and Savior.

Born in Hampton, VA, Bill was raised by his parents George Wilbur Holden and Ruby Mae Holden (Heldreth), who preceded him in death. He was also preceded by his older brother, Robert “Bob” Holden.

He was a committed and loving husband, joyfully married for 46 years to his beloved bride, Catherine “Cathy” Holden. Their marriage was a testament to faith, partnership, devotion and enduring love. He was a proud and loving father to his daughters and sons-in-law, Michelle Dawn (Holden) and Sonny Naylor, Kimberly and Fred Gonzalez. He was a deeply devoted Papaw to his cherished grandchildren, Mateo Alexander Gonzalez and Cora Lane Naylor, who brought him immense pride and joy.

Bill was a devoted Christian, whose life reflected love and service to God. As a member of West Hampton Baptist Church in Hampton, VA for many years, he served in several different capacities. He learned sign language so he could work with the Deaf and Multi-handicapped Ministry, he was a Sunday School leader for young married couples, and he sang and played guitar for the Contemporary Worship Team.

He was a gifted musician, using his guitar and voice to bring joy, comfort and connection to family and friends. He had the rare ability to play nearly any song by ear, often filling gatherings with music that lifted spirits and hearts. As a man of many talents and trades, he was an avid fisherman, carpenter, mechanic, and all-around handyman for his family and friends.

As a communications professional, he held strong work ethics and integrity. Bill began his career at C&P Telephone and continued with and retired from Verizon Communications. Advancing from Lineman to Fiber Optics Engineering,

He survived a severe Traumatic Brain Injury in 2019 and met his recovery with extraordinary resilience and faith. With God’s grace and the support of his devoted family, he continued to live a full and meaningful life. Bill leaves behind an irreplaceable space in the hearts of everyone who knew him. While he will be deeply missed here on earth, we take comfort in knowing he is now at peace in Heaven.

The family will be holding a private Celebration of Life at a later date to honor him. In lieu of flowers and expressions of sympathy, donations will be appreciated and can be made to Circle Center Adult Day Services (Richmond, VA), or the Hill City Church (Richmond, VA).

Circle Center: https://circlecenterva.org/wa…

Hill City Church: https://www.hillcityrva.com/g…

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