Obituary of Homer Ned Holden

Homer N. Holden, 75, went home to be with the Lord Wednesday, May 16, 2012 at the John F. Keever Solace Center in Asheville. A native of Jackson County, he was the son of the late Homer Leonard and Ruby Tucker Holden. Mr. Holden graduated Western Carolina University in 1959, with a B.S. Chemistry and Mathematics. He did graduate study at the University of North Carolina in Heterocyclic Organic Chemistry. Homer was employed by Dayco Corporation for 29 years. He managed plastics products development in support of multiple Dayco manufacturing groups in Waynesville NC, as well as Cleveland and Dayton Ohio. Homer was credited for development of over 25 patents associated with the polymer extrusion process supporting appliance and transportation applications during his career at Dayco. Homer was Director of Research for Total Containment Inc. for 9 years. His responsibilities included product development, supplier management, administration of the total quality systems, and liaison with the Underwriters Laboratories. Homer was responsible for 8 patents while associated with Total Containment, Inc. Homer had a passion for family, golf, art, cooking, furniture making and gardening. He was a lifelong member of the First United Methodist Church of Sylva. Homer was a wonderful mentor; he impacted family, friends and community through the teaching and sharing of his passions. Homer loved these mountains, he traveled extensively around the world in the pursuit of his career but his heart rested here in the North Carolina Mountains. Homer lived a full life without regrets, full of love with family, relatives, friends and the community that he cherished. He is survived by his wife of 50 years, Mrs. Atha Jon Holden; 3 children, Elizabeth Shriver, husband David Shriver and 3 children (Mathew, Andrew and Caroline) of Westminister, Maryland, Leonard Holden, wife Cheryl Holden of Cullowhee, Neal Holden, wife Virginia Holden and 2 children Lori (husband Mike, 2 children Andrew and Corinne) and Todd, of Rockingham, NC; a brother, Bobby Holden; Three sisters, Jacqueline Goforth, Janice Conrad, and Loqueta McRorie. The family will receive friends at Appalachian Funeral Services in Sylva on Friday, May 18, from 6 until 8 pm. The funeral will be held on Saturday at 2 pm at the Sylva First United Methodist Church with the Reverends Ken Curtis and Wanda Kidd officiating. He will lie in state one hour prior to the funeral service on Saturday. Memorials are requested to be directed to the First United Methodist Church of Sylva Building Fund, 77 Jackson St., Sylva, NC 28779. An online registry is available at www.appalachianfuneralservices.com.