Frances Virginia Oakes Holder's Obituary
Mom was born April 14, 1922, in a farmhouse in Davis County, IA, the oldest of 4, born to Hank and Marion Jones. Mom and her sister Rosemary were only 15 months apart, which made for a lifelong companionship. They did farm chores together, played on the hills, and carried water from the well to the house all the while Aunt Rosie would be hopping and skipping along the way (hence the nickname Toady). Mom was the more serious one about finishing the job at hand and Rosie’s favorite saying was, “Nin’s the worker but I ain’t scare of the dark”. Aunt Vada was born 4 years later with Uncle Bobby being the youngest. They grew up on a farm across Fabuis Creek and up the “big” hill from their grandparents, Bill & Olive Jones. The year Mom started high school in Bloomfield, the family moved to town to live in the Sheriff’s house as Grandpa had been elected county sheriff. The sheriff’s house was located next to the banker’s home so on Saturdays Mom baked pies and ironed white shirts to make spending money.
The first time she saw Lloyd Oakes, he whistled at her as she walked around the town square. They were married on Sept. 3, 1938 - Mom was 16 and Dad was 19. The marriage lasted one month short of their 44th anniversary when Dad died from heart failure at 63. Dad was the story teller of the two, Mom would listen, practically cross her eyes at what he was telling and finally say “Oh, Lloyd”. Five years later, she married Merritt Holder, a confirmed bachelor. He was a real trooper - marrying a woman with two adult daughters and 4 adult grandchildren - but he loved every moment of his newfound family life. Merritt died in 2000, they had been married 13 good years.
In 1949, Mom and Nana came to Tucson on the train for the winter to find out if the AZ weather would help Nana’s asthma. Mom said when they boarded the train for the return trip to Iowa, she thought to herself “I hope I never see this place again”. They returned to Tucson for the next 3 winters and then in 1952, Mom and Dad decided to make the permanent move to AZ so the family would be together and not separated for months at a time.
During her life, Mom worked part time for the City of Tucson on a huge annexation project, was a deputy sheriff for the Civil Division of the Sheriff’s office, worked at Wilson Mortgage Company, and was a mortgage interviewer for Tucson Federal Savings and Loan. She then decided to try real estate - became an agent and stayed in that business for 25 years.
Her most important job was being the family’s prime splinter remover for the grandchildren. Nana’s family lived 4 doors down from Mom and Dad and my family was kitty corner across the street. When the grandkids got a cut or a splinter and needed help, they always went to Grandma Oakes. They thought Grandma could remove the sliver, squeeze pimples, clean and bandage cuts with less pain than their mom. Steve once asked her if she was a real doctor while she was treating him for some emergency.
Mom was a lifelong member of the Church of Christ. She was strong in her faith until the end. Her Bible was always close at hand and she read it every day. She was an extremely giving person, her wallet was always open if someone needed a helping hand. In later years, the telephone was her best friend, she had countless people she contacted, wanting to catch up on all the latest news.
Mom is survived by sister, Vada Babcock, daughters Sherry (Robert) Encinas and Nana Pinnell, grandchildren; Amber (Stephen) Beyer, Holly Pinnell, Andrew Pinnell, and Steve (Nora) Encinas. She has 8 great grandchildren; 3 great great granddaughters and 19 nieces and nephews.
Virginia died August 7, 2019, in her home.
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