Donald Earl Holmes

He was born May 25, 1947, in Dearborn, Michigan, and was the son of the late Herbert and Ada Fetterhoff Holmes. He was a veteran of the U.S. Air Force and attended Diamond Hill Baptist Church. He was an engineer with Clark Equipment, Ingersol-Rand, and retired from Dana Corp, and later retired from U.S. Power. He held four patents associated with his engineering work and was known for his handle-bar moustache. He was an avid corvette collector and a member of the Statesville Corvette Club. He enjoyed wood-working, cooking, and traveling, especially to Belguim, Australia, Charleston and Key West.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a sister, Charlotte Pekuri.

He is survived by his wife, Melody Dell Holmes; a son, David Holmes and his wife, Erin, of Cornelius; a step-daughter, Jennifer Cross and her husband, Thomas, of Statesville; three grandchildren, Christopher, Natalie and Kyleigh Cross; and a brother, Bob Holmes of Michigan.

Memorial service celebrating Donald’s life will be held at 7:00 PM Thursday, June 24, 2015, in the Westmoreland Chapel of Bunch-Johnson Funeral Home with the Rev. Larry Holleman officiating.

The family will receive friends from 6:00 to 7:00 PM Thursday at the funeral home prior to the service.

Condolences may be sent to the family online at www.bunchjohnsonfuneralhome.com.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society, 1901 Brunswick Avenue, Suite 100, Charlotte, NC 28207.

Bunch-Johnson Funeral Home is entrusted with the arrangements.