A loved husband, father, Veteran of the US Navy, retired electrician with SPS / Excel Energy,
and fervent hot rod enthusiast passed away on March 15th, 2025, at home in Canyon TX, in
the company of his wife, He was 82.
Gary was a proud Texas native, born in Amarillo in 1942 as the first child of Gilbert Oran
(Jack) Holbrook, and Ina Joe Casey-Holbrook.
After graduating with the class of 1960 at Amarillo High where he served as a film
projectionist, Gary joined the US Navy. Gary continued his work with film projection in the
U.S. Navy during the initial portion of his enlistment, then applied and was accepted into
Submarine School. After completion of Sub School, he spent the next several years
onboard the USS Sam Rayburn based out of Newport News Virginia, working as an
electrician.
Gary re-enlisted on board the USS Sam Rayburn and was transferred to Charleston S.C.
when the submarine was reassigned to that location. After transferring to a second
nuclear-powered sub, he eventually finished his Navy enlistment onboard the USS Howard
W. Gilmore, a tender ship assigned to support submarines. Remaining on the east coast following his time in service, Gary eventually returned home to Amarillo where he worked in the mail room of the Amarillo Globe News. Gary eventually leveraged his training as an electrician and went to work with Southwestern Public Service (SPS) at Harrington Station in Amarillo. Gary remained with SPS for the remainder of his
working life, becoming a supervising electrician and Union Representative for the
International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers.
Gary's passion in life was hotrods, something he shared with his father Jack who worked for
Pontiac in Amarillo during his sons' early years. After building a network of friends who
were automotive enthusiasts, Gary filled his free time attending swap meets, car shows
and interacting with people who loved old cars. His ability to remember details about
specific models of cars, and how the individual components of those cars can be modified
and interchanged was inexhaustible.
Gary is survived by his wife Vida Holbrook, Son, Greg Holbrook, three grandchildren,
Christina Holbrook, Zakory Holbrook & Liam Holbrook, and one great grandchild, Dayton
Holbrook, Stepdaughter Diane Lane, Sister, Sharon Holbrook – Campbell, Nephews, Adam
Campbell, and Ricky Campbell, and Neice, Cindy Campbell.