Merrill D Holmes

Mr. Merrill D. “Doc” Holmes, age 98, of Marietta and most recently of Dunwoody, GA passed away Tuesday, March 13, 2012. He was born on January 12th, 1914 in Russell, KS to parents, Elmer and Flora Mae Holmes. After graduating from Southwestern College in Winfield, KS in 1937, he earned a Masters in Accounting from Columbia Business School in 1938, and then became the Office Manager of a Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company store in Philadelphia, PA. Merrill joined the Army Air Corp in 1941 (Class of 41-G), and later became a U.S. Air Force Command Pilot and was stationed in Guam with a B-29 mission at the end of World War II. He attended the USAF Command & Staff School in 1948 and stayed in the Air Force until retiring in 1966. Merrill then went to work for Lockheed and managed several configuration status accounting projects, including the C-5A, until he retired in 1979. He loved golf, playing several times a week into his nineties, and was a charter member of the Georgia Senior Golfers Association, served as an officer of Lockheed Management Golf and also enjoyed many other hobbies, including; travel, Little League baseball, Babe Ruth baseball and Boy Scouts. Mr. Holmes was preceded in death by his wife of 68 years, Evelyn Holmes. Survivors include sons and daughters-in-law, Denny and Sharyn Holmes, Jr., Mark and Peggy Holmes; daughter and son-in-law, Linda and Herb Gilbreath; grandchildren, Dennis M. and Kellie J. Holmes, Drew and Julie Gilbreath; and brother, Leo Holmes. A graveside service will be held Friday, March 16th at 11 am at Georgia National Cemetery in Canton, GA. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Hanston Methodist Church Fund, 204 N. Logan Street, Hanston, Ks 67849. Arrangements by: H.M.Patterson & Son, Canton Hill Chapel, 1157 Old Canton Rd, Marietta, GA 30068. 770-977-9485.