Harold G. Holmes

Harold Gene Holmes of Fredericksburg departed this life on Wednesday, March 21, 2012. He was born in 1929 to Herbert and Frances Holmes in Hennessey, Okla. In 1943 he lived with his sister, Edith, in Washington, D.C., and was employed by the British army staff as a junior clerk. In 1944 he returned to Hennessey, and after graduating from Hennessey High School in 1947, he attended Enid Business College. He married his high school sweetheart, Winnibel Fry, in 1950, and moved to the Washington, D.C., area. They moved to Fredericksburg in 1977. Harold spent his career employed by the Department of the Air Force, Pentagon, where he served in the Air Force Communications Center and later for the office of the Air Force Inspector General as a writer and assistant editor of a U.S.A.F. technical publication. He retired in 1984, and he and Winnie moved to Harpers Ferry, W.Va., where they operated the Washington Street Antiques shop, and were active members of the Charles Town Baptist Church. In 1994, they returned to Fredericksburg. Harold, an accomplished pianist and organist, faithfully served his Lord with his talent in the churches he attended throughout his life, blessing countless souls. He also served as Sunday school teacher and deacon for more than 40 years. In past years, he was an accompanist for the gospel groups The Sojourners and The Voices of Victory. He was most recently a member of Sylvania Heights Baptist Church. Harold was a loving and much-loved husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather. He is survived by his wife of almost 62 years, Winnibel; his children, Carol A. Covington and Chris of Fredericksburg and Kenneth H. Holmes and Elena of Bristow; grandchildren Amber Coleman, Christine Vanallen, Shawn Covington and Joel and Kara Holmes; great-grandchildren Makiah, Kaileigh, Jaedyn and Alyssa; sister Connie Vculek and Stanley of Yukon, Okla.; brother-in-law Joe Kudlac and niece Joan Winterringer of Enid, Okla.; niece Brenda Monroe; and nephews Jerry Kudlac and Cleo and David Vculek, all of Yukon. Harold’s family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Sunday, March 25, at Found and Sons Funeral Chapels-Cremation Services, 10719 Courthouse Road, Fredericksburg, 22407. A service in his honor will be held at the funeral home at 11 a.m. Monday, March 26, with Pastor Paul Harfst officiating. Entombment will follow in Laurel Hill Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that expressions of sympathy take the form of donations in Harold’s name to Sylvania Heights Baptist Church, 150 Church St., Fredericksburg, Va. 22408. Online condolences may be expressed to Harold’s family at foundandsons.com.

Harold G. Holmes

March 28, 1929 - March 21, 2012