Paul Taylor Holtsford, Sr., age 86, of Antioch, Tennessee and formerly of Mt. Pleasant, passed away on Sunday, July 9, 2016 at Alive Hospice in Nashville.
Paul was born on February 5, 1931 in Mt. Pleasant, Tennessee to Laurel Holtsford and Ruth Benderman Holtsford. He graduated from Hay Long High School after playing quarterback for the football team there. In 1951 he joined the United States Air Force and was stationed at the Hickam Air Force Base in Hawaii where he met his wife Dorothy Scanlan Holtsford. They were married for 63 years. After being honorably discharged from the Air Force, having attained the rank of Staff Sargent, he returned to the Maury County area. He then worked at Hooker Chemical Company in Columbia and was able to put his athleticism to work by pitching for their softball team. Upon moving to California, he worked for Lockheed Aircraft and then Walt Disney Studios security. He enjoyed golfing and loved talking and interacting with everyone he met. He was of the Church of Christ faith.
Paul is survived by his loving wife: Dorothy Holtsford of Antioch; son: Paul Holtsford, Jr. of Antioch; grandson: Ryan Holtsford; siblings: Mary (Herb) Rochelle of Mt. Pleasant and James (Joanie) Holtsford of Centerville; and numerous nieces and nephews. In addition to his parents he was preceded in death by his children: Michael Holtsford and Tina Holtsford; siblings, Joe Holtsford and Norma (Clem) Goodman.
Funeral services for Paul will be held in the Chapel of Williams Funeral Home in Mt. Pleasant on Thursday, July 13, 2017 at 2:00 p.m. with Gary Smalley officiating. Burial will follow in the Garden of Faith at Polk Memorial Gardens with military honors provided by the Herbert Griffin American Legion Post 19. The family will visit with friends on Thursday, from 12 Noon until service time at 2:00 p.m. at the funeral home.
Pallbearers will be Ryan Holtsford, Ron Rochelle, Aaron Rochelle, Grant Baumgardner, Cole Gwinn and Caleb Gwinn.. Good friends, Charles Crotzer, Joe Waack, Ivan Adler will be honorary pallbearers.