Alma N. Holbert

Alma Holbert, 86, of Paris, passed away Monday, Aug. 22, 2016, at Paris Regional Medical Center. Bright-Holland Funeral Home has scheduled graveside services for 11:00 a.m. Friday, Aug. 26th, at Woodard Cemetery with Marvin Weir officiating. The family will receive friends from 5 – 6 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home. Mrs. Holbert, the daughter of Robert Neal & Cora Lee Pipkin Neal, was born May 10, 1930, in Madisonville, Texas. Following her father’s death when Alma was ten years of age, she went to live at the Presbyterian Children’s Home in Itasca, Texas. She loved living there because times were hard, and at the home she always had enough to eat. It was in 1950, when working at the offices of Otis Elevator in Dallas, she met a young man named Jim Holbert. They were wed on Aug. 25, 1950, and built 53 years of family and memories before his death on Nov. 17, 2003. She was a secretary for a number of years at Pecora Corporation in Garland. Alma was then secretary to Sister Mary Eustice, administrator of St. Joseph’s Hospital, for many years. She was a member of First Christian Church and at the age of 84, she became a member of the Reno Church of Christ. Alma loved to travel! She was able to visit Europe three times. She loved Ireland, Germany, Austria and Rome. She also traveled to Hawaii, Haiti, and Puerto Rico. She enjoyed Holbert family reunions when the family was able to get together. In addition to her husband, Alma was preceded in death by her parents, Robert Neal and Cora Lee Pipkin Neal Cook, two sisters, Isabel and Joyce and a brother, Robert. Survivors include three children, Cathy Weir & husband Marvin of Blossom, Raymond Holbert & wife Michiko of Frisco and Ginny Bowien of Wylie, grandchildren, Amy Weir, Adam Weir, Toni Rykaczewski, Joshua Holbert, Dylan Holbert and Megan Bowien, two great grandchildren, Taylor and Savannah Rykaczewski, one sister, Ruby Kerr & husband Lloyd of Dallas along with many nieces & nephews.