David Herbert Holden

LANCASTER - David Herbert Holden, 72, of Jaffrey NH, passed away peacefully at Country Village Healthcare Center in Lancaster, NH on February 24, 2016 after a courageous battle with cancer. David was born in Portsmouth, NH on June 20, 1943, the son of Robert Holden and Berta (Blakslee) Holden. David lost both of his parents at a young age, and grew up on the Blakslee farm in Dalton, NH, raised by his Grandmother Claribel (Curtis) Blakslee and his aunts and uncles. David graduated with honors from Whitefield High School in 1961. He received his Bachelors of Art Degree in Liberal Arts/Spanish from the University of New Hampshire in 1965, and his Master's Degree in Spanish from Middlebury College in 1970. As part of his curriculum, he traveled to Spain, spending nearly a year there attending classes and sightseeing on the weekends. He taught Spanish at Keene High School in Keene NH from 1969 - 1993, and later at schools in Maine and Virginia. David also worked part time as an interpreter for the Spanish in the Virginia Court System. After his retirement he lived in Peterborough and Jaffrey, NH. For many years, David was proud to be a volunteer at the Good Samaritan in Keene, NH. There he met his wife, Norma "Joy" (Smith) Watson. They were married on August 1, 1987, and enjoyed 26 years of marriage before her passing in 2013. David was a devoted member of the United Church of Jaffrey, and an enthusiastic supporter of both the Girls and the Boys basketball teams at Conant High School. He and his wife attended most home games, often following them to away games until health prevented them from doing so. David is survived by his brother, Gregory Amsden of Palmyra, NY, his wife's children, Crystal Blanchette of Hancock, NH and Wallace Watson of Elmont, NY, and grandchildren Alisha, Nathaniel and Donald. Aunts and uncles: Eva Lavoie of Littleton, NH, Ida Lou Blakslee of Dalton, NH and DeBary, FL, Sylvia Stone and Florence Berube of Groveton, NH, John Blakslee of Concord, VT, Robert Blakslee of Punta Gorda, FL, and Kent Holden of Groveton, NH, along with many beloved cousins. In addition to his parents and wife, he is predeceased by his cherished Grandmothers, Claribel Blakslee and Annie Holden, and his aunt and uncles, Marjorie Couturier, Ralph Blakslee and Charles and Rita Blakslee. Friends and family will gather at the Dalton Congregational Church at 11:00 AM on May 21, 2016 for a celebration of his life, followed by internment at the Johns River Cemetery, Dalton, New Hampshire. Donations in his memory may be directed to the United Church of Jaffrey, 54 Main Street, Jaffrey, NH 03452 or the Dalton Congregational Church c/o Jean Abbott, 770 Dalton Rd, Dalton, NH 03598.

David Herbert Holden

June 20, 1943 - February 24, 2016