Anthony E. Holland, Lt. Col. USAF (Retired)
January 25, 1925 – October 06, 2024

Lieutenant Colonel Anthony E. Holland (Tony), 99 years old, of Fort Walton Beach, Florida, passed away at his home on October 6, 2024, surrounded by family and friends, Tony was born on January 25, 1925, to Ralph Edward and Martina Walter Holland in New York, New York. Tony and his brothers, Walter R. and James R. Holland, spent their childhood years in New York, In 1943, while still a teenager, Tony joined the U.S. Marines and went to war in the Pacific. He saw action in the islands of Bougainville, Emeru, Mindoro, and Mindanao. Tony was honorably discharged in 1945 and returned to Suffern, New York where his brother, James, and his mother lived.

After the war, Tony attended and graduated from Oklahoma State University, earning a degree in Business, with a minor in Hotel and Restaurant Management. After graduation, Tony joined the U.S. Air Force and entered pilot and navigator training, culminating in his lifelong dream. Having served in Korea as well as Vietnam, he flew numerous aircraft, T-6s, B-25s, and C-47s. C-124s, K-C 97 (tanker), and B-47 (bomber) ending with HH-53 rescue helicopters (Jolly Green) in Viet Nam. He remained in the Air Force, retired in 1979, and settled in Fort Walton Beach.

In 1987, Tony married Mary Joyce Knapp and they enjoyed over 3 decades together. Among other activities and projects, they traveled extensively in Tony’s houseboat, The Mustang, cruising local as well as intercoastal waterways. Tony was of the Catholic faith and he and Joyce actively supported Catholic charities through St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Fort Walton Beach.

Tony was predeceased by his two brothers (above), his first wife Joan Ann Holland, his oldest daughter, Jamie Lynn Holland, and his second wife Joyce Knapp Holland.

He is survived by his two younger daughters, Martina Holland (Russell Howard) and Laura Holland Coss, as well as a grandson, Gavin Anthony Hart, granddaughters, Allison P. Hart and Heather Holland Coss, three great-grandsons, Tony, Isaiah, and Davi Henriquez, stepsons, Ronald and Troy Branham, several step-grandchildren, as well as a close first cousin, Nita Bigelow.

Tony was an active member of the local Elks Lodge, Knights of Columbus, VFW, and Shriners Fraternal Organization, and left behind a multitude of friends, having been a truly gracious host over the years at his waterfront home.

Tony will be honored for over 35 years of military service at Barrancas National Cemetery in Pensacola. There will also be a celebration of his life to be announced later.

Please make any contributions to the Catholic Charities of Northwest Florida.

Expressions of love and sympathy may be viewed or submitted online at www.mclaughlinmortuary.com

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Lt. Colonel Anthony E. Holland served a tour in the Vietnam War as a HH-53C pilot with the 40^th ARRS in the 1971/1972-time frame.