Frederick Melvin "Bud" Holmes, Jr., a twenty-five year resident of Wilton, N.H., and formerly of Greenville, Mich., died Friday afternoon, July 31, 2009 at the Elms, Milford, N.H., with his wife and children at his side. He was born April 24, 1924 in Port Huron, Mich., only son of the late Frederick Melvin Holmes, Sr. and Hazel Georgia Bradley.
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One of the great joys of his life was participating in sports and watching sporting events. He attended baseball school in Orlando, Fla. in 1942, before World War II interrupted such pursuits. He joined the Marines on December 14, 1942, and left for boot camp from Detroit on January 7, 1943 at 5:00 p.m. Joining the Second Regiment, Second Marine Division at San Diego, Calif., he left there for New Zealand in June, 1943. He first saw combat in the fall of 1943 at Tarawa, with further engagements in the summer of 1944 in the Battles of Saipan and Tinian. Bud was with some of the first occupation troops in Japan, marching through Nagasaki in September, 1945. With great delight he arrived back in the States on December 16, 1945, and caught a troop train on New Year’s Eve from Los Angeles to Great Lakes, Ill., where he was honorably discharged. He arrived back in Detroit on January 7, 1946 at 7:00 p.m., exactly three years and two hours after leaving.
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Bud was the husband of Frances May (Hacker) Holmes with whom he shared 63 years of marriage. They were married Flag Day, June 14, 1946 in Stanton, Mich. They were honored by a surprise celebration of their 50th wedding anniversary at their daughter’s home in Mont Vernon, N.H., with many family members from Michigan in attendance. Both Bud and Fran deeply appreciated the family and friends who shared that special day with them, and spoke of it often. A small celebration was also held for their 60th wedding anniversary.
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Retiring in 1979, from Federal-Mogul in Greenville, after 33 years of service, Bud worked for the next 25 years at various golf courses in Michigan and New Hampshire, enjoying the outdoors and early morning hours. He prided himself on being on the course early in the morning, beginning to mow long before dawn, to avoid interfering with the golfers as they began their play.
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In 2005 he was able to meet his half-sister, Phyllis (Holmes) McGlashen and her family. This was a special event in the lives of both, and they enjoyed many visits and phone conversations in the few years available to them.
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He was predeceased by his parents, his step-father, Melvin D. Dunn, an infant son in 1950, three sisters, Blanche (Holmes) Dunn in 1991, Yvonne (Holmes) (Nettle) Baker in 1986 and Ardas (Holmes) Schultz in 1995, and a half-sister, Marjorie (Holmes) (Campbell) Ambrecht in 2004.
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His survivors include his wife, Frances, of Wilton, N.H.; son, Thomas G. Holmes and wife Cathy J. Rogers-Holmes of Merrimack, N.H.; daughter, Connie L. Bouchard and husband Allan Burr of Kea’au, Hawaii; daughter, Marjean Workman and husband Steve G. Workman of Mont Vernon, N.H.; three grandchildren, Jacob F. Workman and Samuel D. Workman of Mont Vernon, N.H.; and Caitlin V. Holmes of Merrimack, N.H.; a sister, Betty Jane Funk of Venice, Fla.; a half-sister Phyllis McGlashen of Huntington, Tex.; special cousins, Harry C. Holmes, Jr of Walker, Mich. and William Holman of Huntington, Ala., and many dear nephews and nieces.
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As was his request, cremation has taken place, with a private service planned for the family. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the American Heart Association. For a celebration of his life and to leave condolences for the family, go to www.budholmes.com.
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