Alan D Holmes

Alan Donald Holmes was born February 16, 1925, in Oak Park, Illinois, the 3rd child of Norma Forelich and Robert L. Holmes. He was educated in the public school system in Oak Park. He entered Purdue University in May of 1942 in the school of Chemical Engineering. His college career was interrupted by military service with the 100th Infantry Division in eastern France in 1944 and 1945. He was awarded the Combat Infantry Badge and the Bronze Star for his efforts with Company A, 399th Infantry Regiment. He graduated from Purdue with a BS and continued his education at Kansas State Teacher College in Emporia, Kansas, where he studied Business Administration. He also took courses at Midland College and at UTPB where he focused on Behavioral Science.

He came to Midland in 1954 with Leonard H. Caryl, and they formed Qualified Engineering Service. In 1977, he started Holmes Engineering Services, working in the field of building construction, and in 2009, became Holmes Consulting Services.

Alan married Maria Threet in 1956, and they had two sons, Donald Mycroft and Christopher Alan. He married Eleanor Taggart Brittain in 1970 and raised her sons, Stephen Howard Brittain and Douglas James Brittain along with his children as a family.

Alan served the community as a volunteer with Crisis Intervention-Suicide Prevention and the Crisis Intervention Unit of the Sheriff’s Office. He also was a Board Member of the Midland Crime Stoppers. He received the Johnson Center of Appreciation in 1986, the Nonprofit Resource Center and Permian Basin Community Centers Outstanding Volunteer of the Year Award in 1993, and the Cynthia C. Mills Award and State Council Volunteer of the Year Award in 2001.

Alan is survived by his wife Eleanor, sons and stepsons, 9 grandchildren , 15 great grandchildren and 2 great-great grandchildren. He is also survived by the daughter of his heart, Tammy Whitten and her husband Dennis.

Arrangements were made by Ellis Funeral Home with interment at Ft. Bliss Military Cemetery in El Paso, Texas.