WINTER GARDEN, Fla.—Verne Burton Holland, 76, died in Vitas Hospice Care on September 21, 2011. He was a native of Southampton County.

Verne was born July 10, 1935, in Norfolk, Va., to James Frederick Holland Sr. and Lillie Inez Bailey Holland. Besides his parents, Verne was predeceased by two brothers, James Frederick Holland Jr. and Herman Bracey Holland.

There is one surviving brother, Clarence Earl Holland (Barbara) of Punta Gorda, Fla.

Verne married his wife, who survives him, Jean Carolyn Rollings Holland, 54 years ago on September 21, 1957.

Other survivors are two sons, Gerald Lynn Holland of St Louis, Mo., and Michael Wayne Holland of Lakeland, Fla.; grandson, Michael Wayne Holland II of Lakeland, Fla.; and two granddaughters, Candice Nicole Strohm (Christopher) of Rockledge, Fla., and Kristina Ashley Holland of Palm Bay, Fla., and two great-granddaughters, Cassandra Nicole Strohm and Alexa Marie Martinez; and many nephews, nieces and cousins.

Verne served his country 30 years in the United States Air Force. He joined on March 22, 1954, in Richmond, Va., and retired at Mildenhall AFB in

Mildenhall, England, on March 31, 1984, with the rank of SMSgt.

Verne was Command and Control Superintendent of the Command Post at the time of his retirement.

Verne took Basic Training at Sampson AFB, NY, and trained at Amarillo AFB, TX to become a Jet Fighter Mechanic. He served with the 65th FTR Intcp Sqdn in Elmendorf AFB, AK; 500th Bomb Sqdn at Langley AFB, VA; 6592nd Test Sqdn for B-58 bombers and the 43rd BW at Carswell AFB, TX; 43rd BW Hdq Sqdn at Little Rock AFB, AR where he became a Command and Control Specialist in the Command Post; 432nd TRW at Udorn RT AFB, Thailand; 68th BW at Seymour Johnson AFB, N.C.;1132nd Fld Ext Sqdn at Ft Ritchie, Md; HQ 40th TAC GP at Aviano AFB, Italy; 42nd BW (SAC) at Loring AFB, ME; 8 TFW at Kunsan AFB, Korea; 96th BMW at Dyess AFB,

TX; HQ 40th TAC GP at Aviano AFB, Italy on a second tour; and the 306th Strategic Wing RAF, Mildenhall, England.

Verne was the recipient of many awards including the Meritorious Service Medal, AF Commendation Medal with four Oak Leaf Clusters; AF Good Conduct Medal with one Silver Oak Leaf Cluster; Army Good Conduct Medal with Two Loops; Air Force Longevity Service Ribbon with one silver and one Bronze oak cluster, National Defense Service Medal with one Oak Leaf Cluster; Vietnam Service Medal; Air Force Presidential Unit Citation; AF Outstanding Unit Award with two Oak Leaf Clusters; Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm; and the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal.

Verne worked for the Winter Garden Police Department as a dispatcher several years. He retired after 10 years with the State of Florida Driver’s License Division in Ocoee, Fla.

Until his death, he was Manager at the Orange Tree Mobile Home Park and was the “Climate Control Specialist” at the Country House Restaurant in Winter Garden during the breakfast hour.

Verne was an avid hunter, fisherman and hobbyist and loved the outdoors and his orchids.

Verne was a two-term Past-President of the Winter Garden Lions Club.

He was of the Baptist faith, having served in the USAF Chapel programs in many capacities.

Visitation will be Sunday afternoon at Baldwin-Fairchild Funeral Home Winter Garden Chapel from 3 to 4 p.m. with a funeral service following at 4 p.m.

Burial will be at the Florida National Cemetery in Bushnell, Fla., on Monday at 11 a.m. The family has requested no flowers.

Donations can be made to Vitas Hospice Charitable Fund, 2201 Lucien Way, Suite 100, Maitland, Fla., 32751, or The Wounded Warrior Project, 1120 G Street NW, Suite 700, Washington, D.C., 20005, in Verne’s memory.

Arrangement by Baldwin-Fairchild Winter Garden chapel, 428 E. Plant St., Winter Garden, Fla., 34787.

Please sign and view the guest book at www.baldwinfairchild.com.