H. Wilbur Holmes

Born in Portland, Maine in 1939, the fifth child of six, to Ronald T. and Lenore Betsy Holmes. Wilbur attended Portland Public Schools and Deering High School, graduating in 1958.

He graduated from Burdett College in Boston, Massachusetts in 1960. He attended the University of Arizona until his mother called him home to help run the family business, Holmes Electric and House of Lights. He worked there for 35 years before purchasing Watermatic Irrigation where he worked for several years with his sons, John and Scott.

Wilbur met the love of his life, Betty, in 1960, through his childhood friend and her roommate at Forsyth School for Dental Hygiene, Melinda Coombs. Betty and Wilbur married in 1962 in Holden, Massachusetts.

Wilbur volunteered for active duty in the Coast Guard in 1961, following in his older brother’s footsteps, where he served in the reserves for 8 years.

Wilbur and Betty welcomed four children, Kristine, John, Scott and Pamela and set roots in Cape Elizabeth where they lived for 49 years before moving to Scarborough, Maine. They built a

home in Port Charlotte, Florida in 1997 where they enjoyed 27 winters of friendship and golf.

They spent 64 wonderful years together and were faithful to their church communities of First Congregational Church on the Blackpoint Road in Scarborough and Pilgrim Church in Port

Charlotte, Florida.

Wilbur is predeceased by his mother, father and his 5 siblings, Ronald Jr, Lloyd, Jackie, Lamie and Bobby.

He is survived by his loyal and devoted wife who stayed by his side every day as we all watched Alzheimer’s steal him from us. He is survived by his four children, Kristine (Peter), John (Bonnie), Scott (Karen), and Pamela (Jim). He has 11 grandchildren, Emilie (Eric), Lindsey(Rachel), Sarah, Meaghan, Arianna, Rachel, Leah, Lauren, Natty, Emma and Lily, and two great grandchildren, Benjamin and Harrison.

The family extends their deepest gratitude to the staff at

the Mooring at the Downs where Wilbur was adored for the final six months of his life. Their dedication and compassion were unparalleled. Their attention to him and his family during his final hours will always be remembered.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests you hold your loved ones near, let bygones be bygones and cherish the opportunity to make memories together. A funeral will be held at First Congregational Church on Blackpoint Road in Scarborough, Maine on Saturday, May 2, 2026 at 11:00 am. A private burial with family will follow at Riverside Cemetery in Cape Elizabeth.