Obituary of Boyd Melvin Holt, U.S. Army

Boyd Melvin Holt died of heart failure on December 26, 2021, in his daughter's home at the age of 95 years plus 24 hours. He was the last man standing in his HOLT family.He was the oldest child of Harold Thurman Holt and Inez Marion Davidson, born in Milford, Utah on December 24, 1926.Boyd was preceded in death by his daughter, Judy Ann (Ken) Dodge; wife, Viola Mae Mackie; and son, Larry Lynn Holt. Also preceded by parents; sisters, Barbara Moon Stack, Linda Larsen Dooms; and brother, Robert Holt.He is survived by his daughter, Karen Lee (Michael) McCraley; seven grandchildren, Maile Ann (Norman) Box, Todd Michael (Natalie) McCraley, Clinton Scott (Glacy Hope) Dodge, Dawn Michelle (Brett) Asay, Heather Marie (Cody) Davis, Amber Melia (Mike) Clegg, and Misty Noelani (Phil) Kim; twenty-six great-grandchildren; and one great great-granddaughter on her way.Boyd was PROUD to be an American, drafted out of high school March 10, 1945 to serve in WWII. As a TEC 5, he was medically discharged with severe burns to both legs on September 18, 1947 from the San Francisco, California Letterman General Hospital. Boyd was awarded The Asian-Pacific Theatre and American Theater Ribbons and also a World War II Victory Medal. He wished he could have been career military but proudly lived as a Disabled American Veteran. Boyd was madly in love with VI, whom he met in 1946 while in Letterman General Hospital in San Francisco, California. She was a surgical tech in the burn unit; all he could see of her were her eyes and legs (below the knees). He proposed marriage shortly after he met her. Theirs was truly love at first sight.He graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the University of Utah in 1955 and served the Bureau of Land Management as a Civil Engineer and Dam Builder in Grand Junction, Colorado. Boyd was a champion of education. He, VI, one child, and all seven of his grandchildren earned college degrees.Boyd loved his Buick Lucerne, long drives, and travel. He was exceptionally well-read and loved to educate everyone. Boyd could tell you where every item in his house was located. He liked to cook and fed all visitors his own version of a blackened Denver Omelet. Boyd remained fiercely independent all 95 years. He also loved to target shoot and was darn good at hitting his mark.Inurnment, Western Colorado Veterans Cemetery, 2830 Riverside Parkway, Grand Junction, Colorado 81501.