Rodney Holder

Rodney Tomlinson Holder, 50, a 28-year veteran of the Abilene Police Department, died Thursday, April 29, 2010, in Abilene, Texas. Born in Auburn, Alabama, on April 18, 1960, Rodney was the son of Lillian (Ramsey) and Worth E. Holder. In 1963 at the age of three, he moved to Abilene, where he attended Austin Elementary, Madison Junior High, and graduated in 1978 from Cooper High School. He participated in both football and baseball. Rodney enlisted in the U. S. Army in 1979 and attended basic training at Fort Dix, New Jersey. Upon basic training graduation, Rodney was assigned to the 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. Rodney attained paratrooper status and completed over 100 jumps during his military career. He received an Honorable Discharge from the Army and returned to Abilene. On September 7, 1982, he began the Abilene Police Department Academy and graduated on January 7, 1983. He was initially assigned to the Patrol Division, and in 1985, was assigned to SWAT. He later transferred to the Criminal Investigations Division and the Traffic Division. Rodney became a Motor Cycle Officer in 2005, serving in that capacity until his death. Rodney married Annemarie Rankin on June 4, 1994, in Abilene. Among Rodney's many loves were his family and family activities, travel, all sports including Ranger Baseball, his God and his church, Beltway Park Baptist Church. He loved his work, particularly being a motor cycle officer. He also loved his twin granddaughters given to him by Hilary. Rodney was always a source of strength for his family during times of loss and in times of victory. His first wife, Robin Johnson Holder, preceded him in death in 1993. Rodney was also preceded in death by his father, Worth E. Holder; brother, Worth Ramsey Holder; and nephew, Jonathan Worth Gordon. Rodney is survived by his wife Annemarie Holder, son Kyler Worth Holder, daughter Hilary Holder Erfurt and her husband Scotty, twin granddaughters Reese and Rylee Erfurt, and beloved pet dog Mia, all of Abilene. Survivors also include his mother Lillian "Jill" Holder, and sister Jennifer Holder Rowley, both of Abilene, as well as several nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great nephews. Funeral services will be held at 1:00 p.m. Monday, May, 3, at Beltway Park Baptist Church, 4009 Beltway South in Abilene, officiated by Pastor David McQueen and Dr. Phil Christopher. Interment will follow in Elmwood Memorial Park under the direction of The Hamil Family Funeral Home, 6449 Buffalo Gap Road. The family will receive friends at a visitation from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home. Serving as pallbearers will be Mike Ricker, Kelly Willis, Terry Monroe, Ken Dozier, Jim Tallant, Kendall Williams, Les Bruce, and all First Responders of the Abilene Police Department, Abilene Fire Department and Metro Care Ambulance. The family request that memorials be made to the Peace Officers Memorial Foundation, 400 West 14th Street, Austin, Texas 78701 or Beltway Park Baptist Church, 4009 Beltway South, Abilene, TX 79606.