Dr. Gene A. Holland passed away peacefully at his home, with his wife by his side, on the evening of October 31, 2021.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Annie and J. Carlton Holland, his sister Peggy Ledford, his sister Joanne Elliott and his brother Franklin Holland.
He was born on January 05, 1942, in Marion, NC, where he grew up. He attended Glenwood High School where he was valedictorian and played on the varsity baseball and basketball teams. He went on to Brevard College where he got an Associate’s degree in 1963 and played on the varsity baseball team. He received his undergraduate degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1965. In 1968, he graduated from the University of North Carolina School of Dentistry with honors. After serving on the faculty there for two years, he enrolled in the Graduate Restorative Dentistry program at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, where he graduated with a Master’s degree. He then returned to the University of North Carolina School of Dentistry, where he served with distinction in various capacities until 1996, when he retired from the University. While there he served in the Department of Prosthodontics as the Director of the Graduate Program and as Chairman of the Department. In 1996, he was awarded the Richard F. Hunt award for outstanding dedication to and excellence in teaching. That same year he established his own private practice in Fayetteville, NC, where he practiced until the fall of 2011. After moving to Flat Rock, he practiced part time at the office of Dr. Jack Teague in Asheville, NC from 2011 to 2019 when he retired. In 2005, he was awarded The North Carolina Dental School Meritorious Achievement Award. That same year he was recognized by the UNC Prosthodontic Alumni Association for his excellence in teaching. He received numerous other awards from the dental society for his service and was an active member of many Prosthodontic organizations. Gene loved sports and enjoyed following Carolina basketball, the golf career of his son Gene and the baseball career of his grandson Trey. He also enjoyed playing bridge, spending with his and Jane’s children and grandchildren as well as socializing with his many friends and neighbors in Kenmure. Gene was a dedicated and much-loved mentor by the hundreds of dentists he helped train over the years.
He is survived by his loving wife Jane, her three children, Ryan, Darren and Lindsay and her grandchildren, Reece, Gavin, Marley, Lillian, Elliott, Oliver and Paisley, his son Gene, his wife Louise and their three children, Elizabeth, Trey and Jenny, his sister Willette Lawing of Glenwood, NC and his brother Ronald and his wife Crystal (Cooter) Holland of Marion.
A memorial service will be held at Beam Funeral Home in Marion, at 2:00 PM on Saturday, November 13, 2021. After the service there will be a reception at Countryside BBQ, adjacent to the funeral home.
Condolence cards may be sent to the Holland family to; www.jacksonfuneralservice.comor 1101 Greenville Hwy Hendersonville, NC 28792