Sylvia Lee Holder

In Loving Memory

Sylvia Lee Holder July 1, 1958 – August 13, 2025

A Life Well Lived

Sylvia Lee Holder, age 67, of Gonzales, Texas, passed away on August 13, 2025, with her immediate family by her side. She was born on July 1, 1958, in Pasco, Washington, to Emerson “Smitty” and Carol Lee Barto.

As both a proud “military brat” and later an Air Force spouse, Sylvia lived in many places throughout her life, including Hawaii, Washington, Maine, Iowa, Colorado, Nebraska, California, and overseas in Germany and England. She and her high school soulmate, Bob, finally settled for nearly 30 years in Manassas, Virginia, before retiring to Texas to begin building their dream home.

An Adventurous Spirit

Sylvia was deeply devoted to her family and shared many passions with Bob. Together, they traveled the world by air, train, automobile, and cruise ship, but their greatest joy was found in a lifelong love of camping. From their earliest adventures in a humble tent to upgrading to a fifth-wheel camper, each journey deepened their bond and created treasured memories.

Their explorations took them across five continents, north to the Arctic Circle where they camped under the midnight sun, and south to Antarctica where they cruised among towering glaciers.

Creativity & Care

Wherever life took them, Sylvia supported her family and Bob’s career, working in management roles at different postings. During their years in Manassas, she nurtured her creative spirit through crochet, knitting, and home crafts, even running small businesses making handcrafted lotions and creams.

Loving Family

Sylvia is survived by her loving husband, Robert (Bob) Holder; her daughters, Deborah Lee McCauley (spouse Byron, and grandchildren Charles and Thomas) and Rachael Lynn Gehle (spouse Robert, and grandchildren Gavin, Scott, Nell, and Jason); her siblings, Diane Barto and John Barto; and her brothers-in-law, Stephen Holder (spouse Diane), Donald Holder, and Jon Holder (spouse Nancy).

Final Rest

She will be laid to rest at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery In October, 2025.

Remembering Sylvia

Sylvia’s warmth, strength, and adventurous spirit will be deeply missed and lovingly remembered by her family and all who knew her.

“She Is Gone” (adapted from David Harkins, 1981)

You can shed tears that she is gone, or you can smile because she has lived. You can close your eyes and pray that she’ll come back, or you can open your eyes and see all that she has left.

Your heart can be empty because you can’t see her, or you can be full of the love you shared. You can turn your back on tomorrow and live yesterday, or you can be happy for tomorrow because of yesterday.

You can remember her and only that she’s gone, or you can cherish her memory and let it live on. You can cry and close your mind, be empty and turn your back, or you can do what she would want: smile, open your eyes, love, and go on.