Lyle D. Holcomb Jr.

Lyle Donald Holcomb, Jr. (“Don”), of Tallahassee, passed away peacefully at the age of 86 on February 6, 2015, surrounded by loved ones. Don was born on February 3, 1929 in Miami, FL to Lyle and Hazel Holcomb. He graduated from Miami Senior High School, where he was a member of the National Honor Society and Key Club, and ran varsity track. Embarking on a life-long commitment to the Boy Scouts, he earned the rank of Eagle Scout at the age of 16. He then attended the University of Michigan, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in Political Science, while serving five years in the United States Naval Reserve, and was awarded an “M” letter as varsity manager of the gymnastics team. After graduation, he attended the University of Florida College of Law, where he served as editor-in-chief of the Law Review and president of the John Marshall Bar Association. In 1955, he joined his father in the law firm of Holcomb & Holcomb in Miami, and, following his father’s death, joined the firm of Therrel, Baisden & Meyer Weiss in Miami Beach. During his career, he was admitted as a Fellow in the American College of Trust & Estate Counsel and the Academy of Florida Probate & Trust Litigation Attorneys; served as President of the Miami Beach Bar Association; was active in the state and several local bar associations; and served as legal counsel for numerous civic and charitable organizations, including the South Florida Council of the Boy Scouts of America, the Coral Gables Congregational Church, the Church of the Open Door, Sign of the Fish Self-Help Program, Inc., the Christian Community Services Agency of Dade County, and the Pine Cove School Foundation. He was also an organizer and board member of Legal Services of Greater Miami, Inc., the South Florida Migrant Legal Services, the Greater Miami Council of Churches and the Inter-Faith Agency for Social Justice. Don was a member of the Metropolitan Dade County Community Relations Board, the Society of Mayflower Descendants, Sons of the American Revolution, Huguenot Society, Founders and Descendants of Ancient Windsor and the United Church of Christ. He also served as a Boy Scout troop leader and South Florida Council member. In recognition of his lifetime contributions to scouting, he was awarded the prestigious Silver Beaver Award. He retired from practicing law in 1993 and moved to Tallahassee to be closer to family.

He is preceded in death by his beloved wife of 62 years, Barbara; his parents; his sister, Doris; and his son, Scott Harris Holcomb. Don is survived by his daughter, Susan Davis (Terry) of Tallahassee; son, Douglas Holcomb (Patti) of Strafford, Mo.; son, Mark Holcomb (Susan Kelsey) of Tallahassee; and, seven grandchildren (Christiana, Scott, Lauren, Rachel, Steven, Joshua and Michael).

In his leisure time, Don enjoyed many varied interests, including genealogy, birdwatching, and collecting antique bottles. He authored a book tracing his own family’s genealogy, The Watson Family of Barry County, Michigan (© 1966). Don was an avid reader all of his life, and shared a love of learning with his entire family.

Memorial services will take place at 11 am Friday at the Culley’s Meadowwood Funeral Home, Timberlane Chapel. Internment will take place immediately after the services, in Culley’s Meadowwood Memorial Park. The family will receive friends afterward in the reception area at the funeral home. In honor of Don’s longstanding commitment to advancing the cause of equal justice for all, the family requests that in lieu of flowers, memorial donations be sent to Florida Legal Services, Inc., 2425 Torreya Drive, Tallahassee, FL 32303, or online at www.floridalegal.org .