Dr. Ralph Holmes

HOLMES, Dr. Ralph B. Sr., age 85, passed away on April 29, 2010. He was preceded in death by his son, Ralph B Holmes Jr. He is survived by his beloved wife of 62 years, Beverly Cosby Holmes; sons, Gary A. (Ginger) of Midlothian, Bruce B. (Janice) of Las Vegas, N.M., and Robert M. of Ashland; granddaughter, Rachel of Biloxi, Miss.; brothers, Dr. Ray Holmes (Clara) of Greensboro, N.C. and Jerry Holmes (Peggy) of Ft. Worth, Texas; and sisters-in-law, Monnie C. Ford of Richmond and Joan C. McLeroy (Mac) of Jacksonville, Fla. Dr. Holmes was born in Fayetteville, N.C. and attended Wake Forest College, and later the Medical College of Virginia School of Dentistry, where he graduated with the degree of Doctor of Dental Surgery in June 1947. Ralph and Beve were married the same month and resided in Arlington, Va. for 49 years where they raised four sons and where he practiced dentistry for over 40 years. Dr. Holmes was avid at golf, tennis, photography, and traveling. He and Beve traveled extensively in the U.S. and 20 foreign countries. "Pop" enjoyed all aspects of life, especially good food and his loving family. He was a longtime member of The Washington Golf and Country Club, Kiwanis Club of Potomac, Old Dominion Study Club, Psi Omega, and was a life member in the American Dental Association, Virginia Dental and Northern Virginia Dental Societies. He served in the navy in World War II and as captain in the Air Force Dental Corps during the Korean War. Dr. Holmes retired from practice in 1990 and built a home near Ashland, where they moved to in 1996. His Memorial Baptist Church membership of Arlington was then transferred to the First Baptist Church of Ashland. Family will receive friends and family at Bliley's - Staples Mill, 8510 Staples Mill Road, from 4 to 6 p.m. Sunday, May 2. A funeral service will be held at 10 a.m. Monday, May 3 at Bliley's Staples Mill Chapel followed by interment at Hollywood Cemetery.


This obituary was originally published in the Richmond Times-Dispatch.