TOLEDO – Services were held on Monday, Sept. 12, 2011, at the Church of The Living God in Toledo, Ohio for Mr. Mansfield “Ace” Holden, 90, who passed away, Sept. 2, 2011, at St. Vincent Hospital, Toledo.

Mr. Holden was born Feb. 9, 1921, in Duncan, Mississippi, a son of Richard Julius and Ammie Bell Holden.

He was a graduate of Scott High School and Wilberforce University, Wilberforce, Ohio.

Ace played with several major league softball and fast pitch teams, namely, the Chicago Hottentots, the Quincy Club of Cleveland, Ohio, the Tucker Blue Grass Team, Joe Louis Punchers of Flint, Michigan, the U.S. National Fastball League, Robitalle Motors of Montreal, Canada, Savola in Montreal and the “Ace” Holden Rockets, which he formed in 1953.

He was a World War II Army veteran.

After his remarkable baseball career, “Ace” returned to Toledo, Ohio and bought a George Washington Carver Cosmetics Franchise, which his father made famous in Toledo.

He leaves to cherish his memory, a brother, Dr. Henry (Velma) Holden Sr. of Youngstown, Ohio; a daughter, Helene Holden-Strozier; a son, Cloverfield (JoAnn) Holden; four grandchildren; 15 great-grandchildren; three great-great-grandchildren; and a host of nieces, nephews, other family and friends.

Besides his parents, he was preceded in death by a sister, Carrie M. Jenkins; and life-partner, Ora B. Smith.

Local arrangements entrusted to the L.E. Black, Phillips & Holden Funeral Home, Youngstown, Ohio.

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