Obituary of Lieutenant Colonel Richard Holt

Lieutenant Colonel Richard Gottfried Larsson Holt, passed away suddenly at the St. Marys Memorial Hospital on April 14, 2017 at the age of 69.He is survived by his wife Victoria Holt (Newell) of St. Marys. Father of William Holt of London, and Thomas Holt and his wife Sheena of Aylmer. Grandfather of Patrick and Rory Holt of Aylmer. Brother of Anne Blackadder of Combe Martin, Devon, Great Britain and Jane Ferch of Winnipeg. Uncle of Rachael Braunton of Bristol, Great Britain and Victoria Furtado of Exeter together with her children, Leo and Katherine Furtado, Alex Ferch, Laura and Tessa Ferch of Winnipeg. Son of the late Major Leonard Holt and Gerda Larsson.Richard served with the Royal Winnipeg Rifles 1965 – 1969 as rifleman, corporal and lieutenant, served with the Regular Force in the Royal Canadian Regiment from 1969 – 2000 ending in the rank of major, transferred to the militia in 2000, promoted to lieutenant-colonel and commanded the 4th Battalion of the Royal Canadian Regiment from January 2000 to December 2002. He retired from the Canadian Forces in March 2004. Richard completed his MA (History) at the University of Western Ontario in 2002 and earned his PhD (History) at the University of Western Ontario in February 2012. Richard was so pleased to have his study of the Canadian Expeditionary Force evolve into his book, “Filling the Ranks” which was published and released in March of this year.Family and friends are invited to the Andrew L. Hodges Funeral Home, 47 Wellington St. South, St. Marys (519-284-2820) on Tuesday, April 18, 2017 for visitation from noon until the time of the Funeral Service at 1 p.m. Interment in St. Marys Cemetery. Memorial donations may be made to the ALS Society and Salvation Army.