Roy Holmes

Roy Edward Holmes October 25, 2013Roy Edward Holmes was born on October 23, 1928, and left this life on October 25, 2013.Roy (Ed to his family) was a good man and lived a good life. He was diligent, determined, fair, and honest. Throughout his life, Roy sought to live as Christ would have him to live.Roy grew up in Palmerdale, Alabama and was the sixth child of eight children born to Oscar and Myrtle Holmes. He graduated from Jefferson County High School. After high school, he entered the U. S. Army and fought in the Korean War. He was assigned to Company F of the 38th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Division and attained the rank of Corporal. He was wounded, captured by the Chinese, and held as a prisoner of war. He escaped, and although gravely wounded, with God's grace refused to die. After one year of hospitalization and recuperation in Tokyo and Denver, he was discharged and returned to Birmingham. He was decorated in his service to his country. He received two Purple Hearts, the POW Medal, the Good Conduct Medal, a Presidential Unit Citation, the National Defense Service Medal, and the United Nations Service Medal.After his discharge, Roy married Ilene Foust in 1953. Throughout their lives together, they tended to and loved each other through good times and bad and in sickness and in health. She survives him and is thankful for their many years together.Roy attended Massey Business College and earned his degree in business administration and accounting in 1955. He worked for Joslyn Manufacturing & Supply Company in Birmingham and Atlanta for 25 years until he retired in 1981 as National Sales Administrative Manager. In 1981, Roy and Ilene formed Holmes Clothier and located their business in Hoover, Alabama. Roy and Ilene worked happily side by side at their business for 32 years.In addition to his wife, Ilene, and son, Jeff, Roy is survived by his daughter-in-law, Mona; his grandson, Nathan; his brother Wendell; his sister, Josie Huddleston; his sisters-in-law Faye, Peggy, and Lelia Holmes, Pauline Thames, and Sarah Foust; many nephews, nieces, grandnephews, and grandnieces; and many cherished customers and friends.Roy loved life and loved his family. His family's grief at his passing is tempered by the quality and quantity of his life, the many wonderful memories he made for them, the lessons that he gave by word and deed and by the certainty that he is alive with Christ for eternity.Funeral services will be held at Christ the King Lutheran Church at 2 p.m. on October 29. Visitation will be before the funeral service, beginning at 1:30. Interment will immediately follow at Jefferson Memorial Gardens, East.The family expresses gratitude to Birmingham VA Palliative Care and also to Roy's CNA, Jennifer Brown, for her dedication and companionship.In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations in Roy's honor to Christ the King Lutheran Church, 611 Riverchase Pkwy. W., Birmingham, AL. 35244; Blue Star Salute Foundation, Inc., PO Box 19, Vincent, AL. 35178-0019; or Affinity Hospice Charity Foundation, 216 Aquarius Dr., Suite 315, Birmingham, AL. 35209. Jefferson Memorial in Trussville directing.