Oliver Patrick Holder

Oliver Patrick (O.P.) Holder, 89 of the East Fort Hill community in Robbinsville, N.C., passed away peacefully at Graham Healthcare & Rehabilitation Center on Wednesday, Dec. 17, 2025.
He was the son of the late Buford and Margie Jenkins Holder. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his son, Preston Holder, in 1989; and his brother, Jay Harold Holder.
O.P. is survived by his loving wife of 66 years, Jimmie Dula Holder; daughter, Leigh Ann Wood and son-in-law Clinton W. (Chuck) Wood IV of Hickory, N.C.; sister, Dilois Sylvester; niece, Richelle Rocket of Asheville, N.C.; and nephew, Robert Sylvester of Maiden, N.C.
O.P. attended Western Carolina University and was a member of Robbinsville Masonic Lodge No. 672. He served as the District Deputy Grand Master from 1980-81 for the 65th Masonic District.
Funeral services were held at the Robbinsville United Methodist Church on Saturday, Dec. 20, 2025, at 1 p.m. The Revs. Eric Reece, Marty Maxwell and Loy Kennedy officiated.
The family received friends from noon – 1 p.m., prior to the service, at the church.
Burial followed the service at the Old Mother Cemetery.
Masonic Rites were conducted by Robbinsville Lodge No. 672.
Honorary pallbearers were Clinton W. Wood IV, Raymond Norton, Lindy Ammons and Jeff Millsaps.
Townson-Smith Funeral Home was honored to serve the Holder family.
An online register is available at townson-smithfuneralhome.com.