PAUL "BUD" HOLDRIDGE
Paul Orrin "Bud" Holdridge Jr., age 66, of Colonel Ledyard Hwy., Ledyard, died Thursday evening at Backus Hospital after a brief illness.
He was born on March 1, 1936 the son of Paul O. Holdridge Sr. and Mildred (Manning) Holdridge.
He was a graduate of University of Connecticut School of Agriculture in 1958.
He married Allene Larkham Holdridge on August 28, 1954 at the Norwichtown Congregational Church.
Mr. Holdridge served as President and CEO of Holdridge Farm Nursery, Inc. since his father Paul Sr.'s death in 1979.
He was past fire chief and chairman on the board of directors of Ledyard Fire Company #1. He also served on the Ledyard Parks and Recreation, the Ledyard Democratic Town Committee, and the Ledyard Agri-Science Advisory Board. He was a life member of the Ledyard Congregational Church and the Groton Lodge of Elks.
Mr. Holdridge was a past president of Connecticut Nursery and Landscapers Association, the Connecituct Nurserymen's Foundation, the Eastern Regional Nurserymen's Association and Trade Show Chairman in 1991, and the Ledyard Fair Association.
He also served as Corporator of Chelsea Groton Bank, Advisor of First Pioneer Farm Credit Corporation and Advisor of Home and Garden Show Place.
In addition to his wife he is survived by three daughters, Lynn Cochrane of Gales Ferry, Elaine Roman and Shari Hewes both of Ledyard, and six grandchildren, 2nd Lt. Justin Visser, Rory Cochrane, Dayna and Mitch Roman and Shauna and Ben Hewes.
Bud's family will greet relatives and friends at the The Dinoto Funeral Home, 17 Pearl Street, Historic downtown Mystic on Sunday from 4-8pm. His service will be conducted at the Ledyard Congregational Church on Monday at 10am. Burial will be in Avery-Stoddard Cemetery with a reception picnic immediately following at Blonder Park (Colonel Ledyard Park).
In lieu of flowers donations in his memory may be sent to the Ledyard Congregational Church, PO Box 77, Ledyard 06339 or to the Bud Holdridge Scholarship Fund for a Ledyard Agri-Science student, Dime Bank, PO Box 50, Ledyard 06339.