GOFFSTOWN, NH — Edward Fuller Holden died peacefully in Goffstown, NH on Feb. 27, 2017. He was born Oct. 27, 1922, in Ann Arbor, Michigan, to parents Edward Fuller Holden and Beatrice Card Holden.
A member of the “Greatest Generation”, Ed (called Ned by his family) was a student at the Aroostook State Normal School in Presque Isle, ME when he entered the U.S. Army in 1943. He served with the 140th and 141st Army Airways Communications System Squadrons and was stationed in the Admiralty Islands and the Philippines. He returned to civilian life in Feb. 1946, married Marjorie Caroline Larsson in New Sweden, ME in 1947, and completed his Bachelors degree at Boston University. Edward and Marjorie began their vocations as educators in Presque Isle, ME.
In 1952, Ned and Marjorie relocated to Greenwich, Connecticut, where Ed continued his career as a teacher, completing advanced degrees at the University of Maine and Fairfield University. Ed advanced his career as a school administrator, serving as the first principal at Western Junior High School. Toward the end of his service Ed returned to Greenwich High School as a teacher in the Social Studies department until his retirement in 1978. In his “retirement years”, Ed continued to teach in NH and Virginia.
Among Ed’s lifelong interests were U.S. history and genealogy. He served as a genealogy consultant at the New Hampshire State Library and worked with students at St. Anselm College in Goffstown. Ed was exceptionally proud to be a Mayflower descendant, long active in the NH Mayflower Society and selected governor of his chapter. In all his endeavors Ed earned the respect and admiration of his colleagues.
He was predeceased by his wife, Marjorie; sons, Frank and Peter; and brother, Richard. Ned is survived by his sister, Mary Backels; his brothers, Walter Holden and Bill Stevens; and many beloved cousins, nieces and nephews.
Ed was very grateful to his daughter-in-law, Barbara; his friend, Leslie Fredette; as well as his niece, Norma Larsson and her partner, Robert Sezak, for their “…invaluable help to (him) in expediting the myriad number of details relative to (his) life as one who (became) extremely dependent on the good will, intelligent judgement, and consistently wise actions of others.”
A memorial service will be scheduled at a later date. Interment will be at the Maple Avenue Cemetery in Hillsborough, NH.
