Richard Holmes

Richard “Dick” Holmes passed away Sunday morning at Toledo Hospital 10 days shy of his 87th birthday. He just celebrated his 67th wedding anniversary with his beloved wife, Margaret (Zeiler), 2 weeks ago. Dick had a wonderful life. He attended Blessed Sacrament Church his entire life, where he served at various times as an usher, lay distributor, President of parish council, President of Holy Name Society, on 3 Finance committees for school drives, and coached baseball and basketball for 10 years. Dick also attended the first Cursillo. All 7 children also attended Blessed Sacrament School. Dick graduated from Central Catholic High school as a member of the extremely successful class of ’47. His wife, all of his children, many of his grandchildren, and now his oldest great-granddaughter attended CCHS . Dick worked in various jobs when he was younger, but eventually settled into a 40 year career in the medical business at Wyatt Pharmaceutical, followed by Toledo Pharmaceutical, where he became President, and then left in 1978 to form Lake Erie Medical and Surgical Supply with his 3 sons, Rick, Mike and Bob, followed by daughters Carol, Jeannie and son, Mark. Dick also was instrumental in the development of the Independent Medical Coop, (IMCO,) where he served on the board for a number of years. He was more interested in treating people fairly than becoming personally wealthy. Dick was an avid golfer. He and all of his 5 brothers caddied at Inverness when Byron Nelson was the pro, and so they learned from the best. Dick caddied for Craig Wood at Inverness when he won the US Open in 1941, and also caddied for “Lord Byron,” Gene Sarazan, and Frank Stranahan, in his lifetime. Dick actually filled in and won 1 match and lost 1 in his 8th grade year for CCHS, when a member of the team turned 18 and joined the war effort of WW II. He also played 4 years on the CCHS golf team, and served 2 years as Captain. He belonged to Byrnewick CC in the early 70’s, and Whiteford Valley GC for 25 years, and formed many treasured friendships along the way. Dick was preceded in death by his parents, Fred and Helen Holmes, his son, Daniel, his brothers & their wives, Bill (Patty) Holmes, Fritz (Dianne) Holmes, and his brother, Jim Holmes. Dick is survived by wife Margaret, brother, Marty (Kathy) Holmes, sister-in-law, Ann Holmes, sons, Rick (Chris) Holmes, Mike (Cynthia) Holmes, Bob (Cathie) Holmes, Mark (Keith) Holmes, Carol (Ed) Beers, and Jeannie (Joe) Sieren, 13 grandchildren, and 21 great- grandchildren. Visitation will be at Ansberg-West Funeral Home, 3000 Sylvania Avenue, (between Secor and Douglas Roads), on Tuesday, November 22, from 2:00 to 8:00 pm. Friends may also on Wednesday. November 23, from 9: 30 am until the funeral mass at 10 am at Most Blessed Sacrament Church. Contributions in memory of Dick may be made to the Cherry Street Mission, Most Blessed Sacrament Church, Central Catholic High School or Hospice of Northwest Ohio. Online condolences may be sent to the family at ansberg-west.com

Richard Holmes

November 30, 1929 - November 20, 2016