Wallace (Butch) George Holden passed away Monday, April 19, 2010 in El Paso, Texas. He was 58 years old.
Butch was born March 25, 1952 in Berwick, PA to Don and Thelma (Wolfe) Holden. He was the fourth of five siblings and the family moved to Albuquerque when he was about five years old. Butch graduated high school in Albuquerque before joining the Air Force and serving his country. Upon his return to the civilian life, he attended TVI and graduated as a diesel mechanic.
He and Sharyl Sullenger married on September 19, 1981 and then made his home in Mountainair, NM for nearly 20 years. He loved watching the Dallas Cowboys and was a proud member of the first graduating class of Corrections Corporation of America in Estancia.
Butch may have been raised in the city, but he was a country boy at heart. During the first branding he attended, he would question every aspect of what was going on. He learned how to brand, dehorn and why the male calves were castrated. He was not afraid to ask about anything. At the time, the family was using implants. He watched as an implant was inserted into the calf’s ear and asked why that was being done. “To make them grow.” was the answer he received. Butch chewed on this tidbit of information for a while then finally asked, “Why do you want their ears to grow?”
Butch was the proud father of three children: Brian Robert, Jennifer Elizabeth, and David Allen.
When he and Sharyl first married, Sharyl told Butch that if he would take out the trash, she would tend to the rest of the household chores. Butch was pleased with that and did his part of the chores with very little complaining. When Brian was born, Butch was so proud to have his son, someone to carry on his family name. Sharyl also learned he had another reason to be happy about having a son, “Someone to take over my chores!” Hopefully, Tabby has better luck getting Brian to take the trash out than his mother did.
Butch did his best to attend every event his kids were involved in. They were his joy and his pride. From watching Jeni receive numerous awards at school to being the best man at David’s wedding, he watched them grow and thrive with love. I believe he continues to watch them, even now and I know in my heart that he knew they were with him when his time in this world was over.
He is survived by, and very proud of his three children, Brian and wife, Tabitha of Columbus, GA, Jennifer of Portales, and David and wife, Cristy of Mountainair. Butch is also survived by his two grandchildren, Delia and Kayden Holden, a brother Don and Pam Holden, a sister Shirley Perea, and a brother Darryl and Tina Holden, and numerous nieces, nephews and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents, and a brother, Richard Allen.
