William Michael Holmes Sr.

William Michael Holmes (Bill) was born in Youngstown, Ohio, on February 16, 1943, to John Patrick and Ruth Myrtle Jones Holmes. Bill passed from this earth on February 28, 2023, in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania.

Bill grew up in a devout Catholic home. At age four, his family moved to Provo, Utah, where Bill later graduated from St. Francis High School. Following High School, In 1961 he joined the Marine Corps and served his boot camp time at Marine Corps Recruit Depot in San Diego, California. He was assigned to the 106 millimeter coilist rifle platoon and was stationed in Okinawa.

In 1965, he began attending Dixie Junior College in St. George, UT. While attending college, he worked part-time on the St. George Police Force as a police officer. It was at Dixie that he met Carol Dean Partner and also became a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. After their graduation at Dixie, Bill and Carol were married in Hoytsville, UT on July 6, 1967.

They made their home in Salt Lake City. Bill obtained employment for an armored car company, and then later began working for the University Utah Police Department. He also attended classes at that university. On June 19, 1968, he and Carol became parents to a darling baby girl and named her Elizabeth (Beth) Ann.

In the fall of 1969, they moved to Goleta, California so Bill could work for the University of California, Santa Barbara Police Department. On June 17, they were blessed with a son, William Michael, Jr. Bill graduated from the UCSB with two bachelor's, one in law and society and the other in sociology.

Soon after his graduation, the family moved to Lompoc, California, where Bill worked as a correctional officer for the Federal Bureau of Prisons. On June 23, 1974, they were blessed with another son, Patrick Shamus.

Bill transferred with the Bureau of Prisons to Dallas, TX, to train as a personnel officer. On August 1, 1975, they welcomed a baby girl, Heather Marie.

In 1976, Bill transferred with the Bureau to the Ft. Worth Correctional Center.

In 1979, Bill transferred with the Bureau of Prisons to Washington DC.

A year later Bill was transferred to McNeil Island, Washington, to help close the penitentiary and relocate the employees to other prisons.

Bill was transferred to the Federal Prison Camp, Boron, California. It was while working at the prison camp that he decided to take a position with the Department of Defense and moved the family to Ridgecrest, California. It was while working at the China Lake Naval Weapons Center, that he obtained a master's in public administration.

After 2 years in 1983 he and his family moved to Las Vegas, NV and Bill worked at Nellis Air Force base.

In 1987, Bill became head personnel officer at Dyes Air Force Base in Abilene, TX.

In 1990 he and his family moved to Tehachapi, CA. Bill commuted to Edward's Air Force base, where he worked until he retired in 1999. Following his retirement, Bill was a reserve deputy sheriff with the Kern County Sheriff's Department and a partner with a Private Investigation Business.

On May 24, 2008, Bill and Carol were sealed in the Las Vegas Temple.

After living in Henderson, NV for a short time, they moved to Inwood, WV in 2009 to be closer to their two daughter's.

Because of many falls and health issues they moved into a Senior Independent Living Community in Fayetteville, PA, in October 2021.

In July 2022 Bill began having dialysis treatments three days a week and continued to deal with multiple health issues including memory loss.

Bill was admitted into the Chambersburg, PA hospital on Feb 27, 2023, due to breathing problems. He passed away during a procedure the following day, Feb 28, 2023. He did not suffer in his final hours of life. He spoke with his wife Carol prior to his procedure stating that he had a wonderful nights sleep and felt great! He was talking to the nurses up until the second his heart gave out.

Bill enjoyed serving with the Cub Scouts and as an Employment Specialist for his church. He proudly wore his Marine hat and hung his Marine flag with pride! He enjoyed playing card games with his children, attending any events that his children were participating in and was always excited at the news of a new grandchild or great grandchild. He spent his last months looking at pictures of his children and grandchildren. We are happy that he is no longer suffering with illness and that he has been reunited with his loved ones on the other side of the veil.

Bill was preceded in death by brother, Jackie and his parents, John and Ruth Myrtle Holmes. He is survived by his wife Carol, sons Willliam Michael Holmes, Jr.,. Patrick Shamus (Amber) Holmes; daughters, Elizabeth Ann (Steele) Macfarlane and Heather Marie (David) Goodmansen, 29 grandchildren, Kera Macfarlane, Aaron and (Larissa Conger) Macfarlane, Miranda, Micaela, Joseph, and Cameron Macfarlane, (Rocko) and Jessika Holmes Graziano, (David) and Melissa (Holmes) Taufa, (Andrew) and Rebecka Holmes Stet, Justen, Luke, Jace and Molly Holmes, (Porter) and Hannah Holmes Roylance, (Nathan) and Claire Holmes Wight, Connor and Heidi Holmes, Ethan and (Anna Taylor) Goodmansen, Blake and (Keragyn Romriell) Goodmansen, Ryan and (Tia Franson) Goodmansen, Megan, Joshua, Audrey, Emily, Andrew, McKenzie, Della, Finleigh and Peter Goodmansen, 15 great grandchildren, Nora and Mila Neilson, Aiva Jo, Thorin and Garrick Macfarlane, Ivy, Beckham, Scarlet and Violet Graziano, Leila and Lucy Taufa, Milo and Zoey Stet, Eloise Roylance, Evie Wight, plus 2 more on the way, baby boy Roylance and baby Goodmansen.

Click this link to view additional photos and service details https://my.gather.app/remember/william-holmess