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David HOLMES

1940 - 2020

David HOLMES obituary, 1940-2020, Dayton, OH

David HOLMES Obituary

HOLMES, David Richard

Passed away Friday, December 4, 2020, at Maine Medical

Center in Portland, Maine. He was born August 10, 1940, in Salt Lake City, Utah, the son of the late John Rulon Holmes and Evelyn Nadine (Schettler) Holmes.

Dave was a graduate of San Gabriel (California) High School, Stanford University and earned an MBA from Northwestern University. He also received two honorary doctorates, one from the University of Dayton and one from Northwood University. He and his wife, Nancy, celebrated 55 years of

marriage in September.

In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by a brother, John Dean Holmes. Survivors, in addition, to his wife, Nancy, are his sons, David Matthew and his wife, Heather Anne,

Stephen Michael and his wife, Heather Grace and Jeffrey Alan and his wife, Ann Catherine, six grandchildren, Eliza, Jordan, Rowan, Jackson, Braeden and Madeline and one brother

Howard Douglas Holmes.

Dave left a large footprint. In 2002 he retired from the Reynolds + Reynolds Company, where he held the titles of President, CEO and Chairman of the Board. Before coming to Reynolds, he held executive management positions at General Foods, General Electric and Nabisco Brands. He served on a number of corporate boards, including NCR Corporation,

Dayton Power and Light and Bank One. He was very active in the Dayton community. He served on numerous boards and committees, including the Dayton Business Committee, the Area Progress Council and WDPR-FM. He chaired the 1992 Dayton United Way Campaign and was a trustee of the

Performing Arts Fund, the YMCA and the St. Elizabeth

Medical Foundation. He spearheaded the creation of the Downtown Dayton Partnership and chaired the Riverscape

campaign to revitalize the downtown Dayton riverfront. He devoted much time to working with Dayton Public Schools as a member of the Business Advisory Council. He served on the boards of Dayton and Wright State University Foundations, as well as the board of trustees of Northwestern University's J.L. Kellogg Graduate School of Management Alumni Advisory Board.

Dave received many awards including the Ellis Island Medal of Honor, Financial World CEO of the year twice, The Outstanding Business Leader award from Northwood University, the Smitty Award, the Citizen's Legion of Honor Award, and the Dayton City Manager's Service Award.

Dave loved to build furniture and complex models of historic ships in his free time, as well as build and race radio control model sailboats. He truly loved sailing and spent many

wonderful times cruising with family and friends on his

sailboat. Above all, his devotion to his family was first and foremost in his priorities.

At this time, there is no scheduled service, but there will be a celebration of Dave's life at a future time. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Alzheimer's Association or the charity of your choice.

To share memories of David or to leave the family an online condolence please visit, www.athutchins.com.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by Dayton Daily News on Dec. 11, 2020.

Memories and Condolences
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Sponsored by A.T. Hutchins Funeral and Cremation Services.

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3 Entries

David S. Vail, PhD

August 9, 2025

What a good man and a wonderful family. Rest in peace.

David S. Vail, PhD

December 13, 2024

Will always remember Dave as a kind, generous, and humble person. Good person and a wonderful family. He is greatly missed.

David and Kathy Vail

December 11, 2020

Nancy and Family - We were so sorry to hear about the Dave's passing. We were truly blessed to have known him and all of you. What a wonderful person who was greatly admired and respected by all who knew him. He was one of the most humble and genuine people that I had the pleasure to know. His family - Nancy and the kids - were a testimony to the values that were instilled in your daily lives and how you treated others. He will be missed and our heartfelt sympathies go out to all of you. Take Care and God Bless. David and Kathy Vail

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To offer your sympathy during this difficult time, you can now have memorial trees planted in a National Forest in memory of your loved one.

Funeral services provided by:

A.T. Hutchins Funeral and Cremation Services

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