Charles Robert Holbrook, 68, of Fort Payne, Alabama, passed away Sunday, February 24, 2013, with his boots on doing what he loved best–riding one of his many horses.
“He stepped off his horse last night and had a heart attack, so he
ultimately was doing what he loved,” says close friend, Beth Johnson
Dunlap. “Charles was a good friend, a mentor, and always making me
smile. I will miss him, and his jokes. I know he is going to be looking
down on all of us–ready to tell us another way to do what we are doing.
I am gonna miss ya Red Rooster!”
Holbrook was a veteran of the U.S. Air Force and a member of the VFW. He was known for his love of horses, and was an AQHA Select Amateur Reserve World Champion in the working cow horse and a former AQHA Amateur High Point All-Around champion in the nation. His wife, Pam, shows in the halter and owns the 2012 AQHA High Point Aged Mare. Charles also loved to teach his talented granddaughter the reining.
Halter trainer Todd Grant remembers Holbrook as a character. “He was old school and very opinionated but he would do anything for anyone. He craved horse showing and he loved to tote his granddaughter around to the shows. He never met a stranger, and would also carry on like a banty rooster: strutting, causing havoc, and making everyone laugh.”
Exhibitor and friend Deanna Freeland agrees, “A lot of us have so many great memories with Charles. He will be so missed. Prayers to Pam and the rest of the family.” (pictured left with his wife, Pam)
Funeral services will be 1 p.m. Wednesday, February 27th at Wilson Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Terry Dehart officiating. Burial will follow in Adamsburg Cemetery. The family will receive friends Tuesday from 4 until 8 p.m.
He is survived by his wife of 47 years Pam Guest Holbrook, son and daughter-in-law Chuck and Wendy Holbrook, daughter and son-in-law Celeste and Derwood Ragan, grandchildren Mariah R. Keith and husband Kyle, Madden Ragan, Ethyn Holbrook, Cheyenne Holbrook, and Hunter Stone, brother Larry Holbrook, sister Lisa Peterson, and mother-in-law Imogene Guest.
*This article is a combination of an obituary posted on the Wilson Funeral Home website as well as interviews done by GoHorseShow. (Pictured below with Beth Johnson Dunlap)
