At the age of 81, Charles Robert Holden of Newport, Arkansas, passed away on Thursday, July 31, 2025. The son of Mildred (Ivy) and Fred Michael Holden, he was born on August 22, 1943.
Born and raised in Jackson County, Charles completed his education at Newport High School in 1961. Before transferring to Arkansas State University, where he graduated with a business degree in 1966, he first attended Hendrix College.
Charles Robert Holden married Gloria Gray on December 21, 1968, and they were together for 56 years.
Beginning with his summer jobs at Yellowstone National Park during his college breaks, Charles showed an amazing work ethic. He started working as a Chrysler-Plymouth dealer in 1966 and remained there for nine years. Following the dealership’s sale, Charles spent a number of years at Revere Copper and Brass before pursuing a career as a real estate broker and becoming a GRI (Graduate Realtor Institute) certified professional. Later, he started his own company, Holden Appraisal Service, and became a real estate appraiser. He obtained the CGA (Certified General Appraiser) and IFA (Independent Fee Appraiser) qualifications. Charles became a well-known professional figure in Jackson, Woodruff, and Independence Counties by pursuing this career path until his retirement in 2024.
He loved to read, and he loved to travel. After escorting a number of student groups to Europe, Charles and Gloria enjoyed traveling the world.
In addition, Charles accumulated a number of collections, which included books, coins, electric fans, and old cameras. Charles loved sailing as well.
He had a great sense of humor and was a storyteller.
Charles participated actively in the Newport Investors Club and was a Paul Harris Fellow of the Newport Rotary Club.
He attended Newport First United Methodist Church all of his life.
Charles’s parents and brother, Michael Fred Holden, passed away before him.
His wife, Gloria (Gray) Holden, two sons, Chris Holden of Jonesboro and Robert Gray Holden (Melissa) of Fenton, Missouri; three grandchildren, John Holden of Lawrence, Kansas; Christopher Holden and Cora Holden of Fenton, Missouri; one sister, Carmen Holden McHaney (Jim), of Little Rock; two nephews, Holden McHaney (Dr. Katie Drago) of Portland, Oregon; and a lifetime of friends make up his surviving family.
On Sunday, August 3, from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m., Jackson’s Newport Funeral Home will have a visitation. Rev. Kelly Giese will officiate a Celebration of Life on Monday, August 4, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. at the funeral home chapel.
Penn Stafford, John Conner, Jr., Scott Mears, Holden McHaney, Marvin Hare, Edward Boyce, Dee Mears, Ryan Jarrell, and Travis Mears are honored to be pallbearers. Members of the Newport Investment Club, Newport Rotary Club, Jim McHaney, Kenneth Grady, Rick Allen, Rob Penix, and Rick Canard are honorary pallbearers.
Chris Holden’s memorial can be sent to the Jonesboro Human Development Center, located at 4701 Colony Drive, Jonesboro, AR 72404.
Jackson’s Newport Funeral Home made the arrangements.
