Obituary of Robert Holmes, Jr.

Robert Holmes, Jr., age 86, passed away peacefully on Saturday, January 10, 2015 at home in Rifle, CO surrounded by his loving family. Mr. Holmes was born March 15, 1928 in Wayne, NJ the son of the late Robert, Sr. and the late Winifred "Daisey" (Whittaker) Holmes. He was a 1946 graduate of Pompton Lakes High School and then enlisted in the United States Marine Corp and completed a two year tour during the end of WWII. Mr. Holmes was a graduate of Stevens Institute of Technology where he earned a BS in Mechanical Engineering. He married Alice Pauline Damaty on December 30, 1950. Bob was employed by ITT for over 25 years where he worked as a mechanical engineer. He was a former parishioner of our Lady of the Valley RC Church, Wayne. In 1989 he retired and moved to Rifle, CO. He is survived by his beloved wife of 64 years, Alice; his loving children, Robert, III of Carbondale, CO, Richard and his wife Deborah of Charlotte, NC, Cathleen and her husband Bob Petts of Glenwood Springs, CO, John and his wife Karen Holmes of Flanders, NJ, Mark Holmes of Glenwood Springs, CO, Charles and his wife Elaine Holmes of Downingtown, PA, Tim and his wife Ginger Holmes of Towaco, NJ, and Bill and his wife Melanie Holmes of Rifle, CO; 24 devoted grandchildren; 7 cherished great grandchildren; his dear sister Winifred Walker of Inverness, FL; numerous nieces and nephews; and his faithful dog Bratt II. In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by his sisters, Roberta Bradley, Evelyn Ferrari and Florence Hinchman. Visiting hours will be Friday from 4-8 p.m. at the funeral home. The funeral Mass will be Saturday at 9:30 a.m. at Our Lady of The Valley R.C. Church, 630 Valley Rd., Wayne. Interment will follow in Laurel Grove Cemetery, Totowa. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations in Robert's name may be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105 or Wounded Warrior Project, PO Box 758517, Topeka, KS 66675