Martin E. Holmes

Martin E. Holmes Jr., 93, died at 9:55 a.m. April 5, 2011, at Hardin Hills Health Center, Kenton. He was born Feb. 26, 1918, in Wabash County, Ind., to Martin E. and Nina D. Johnson Holmes Sr., who preceded him in death. On May 24, 1941, he married Ramona I. Riley, who survives in Kenton. Mr. Holmes was a 1937 graduate of Lima Central High School. He had been a journeyman sheet metal worker for Clevenger Roofing and Bartlett Roofing, Lima. He was an Army veteran of World War II, serving 40 months in Europe. During that time he served as honor guard for the king and queen of England in Liverpool. He was assigned to the Service Company of the 332nd Engineering Regiment. In December 1944, he was the escort for General Dwight D. Eisenhower. Following his discharge, he was called to the ministry. He attended Moody Bible Institute, Lexington Baptist College and Bethel Baptist Seminary. He entered the ministry on April 19, 1947, and served as pastor at Homewood Baptist Church, Albert Street Baptist Church and Northside Baptist Church, all in Lima. He also served as pastor of First Baptist Church, Wauseon, and Wheelersburg Baptist Church, Wheelersburg. While in Wheelersburg, he was chaplain for the Wheelersburg Volunteer Fire Department. He was pastor of Grace Baptist Church and worked at Dick Devore Funeral Home, both in Sunbury. He retired from Temple Baptist Church, Ocala, Fla. In 1982, he moved to Kenton. Following his retirement he was an interim pastor at Bethel Baptist Church, Lima, Landmark Baptist Church, Collinsville, Ill., and Arbuckle Baptist Church, Marion County, Ky. He was a member of Faith Baptist Church, Kenton. He had read the Bible from cover to cover 280 times. He was a life member of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1275, Lima, American Legion Post 198, Kenton, and a Silver Leader in the Commanders Club of the Disabled American Veterans, Cincinnati. He lived to serve his Lord and Savior. He enjoyed spending time with his family and friends. He has now gone home to be with his Lord and Savior. Survivors also include a son, Arthur R. (Ellamae) Holmes, of Avondale, Ariz.; six grandchildren, Arthur Jr., Charles, Kenneth, Abigail, Lillian and Kenneth; two great-grandsons, Aaron and Adam; a great-great-grandson, Colten; and a sister, Ruth Thomson, of Lima. He was preceded in death by a son, Thomas K. Holmes; two brothers, Richard and James; and two sisters, Mary Smith and Wilma Bartlett. Services will begin at 11 a.m. Friday at Chiles-Laman Funeral Homes, Eastside Chapel. Pastor Dennis Burns will officiate. Burial will be in Salem Mennonite Cemetery, Elida, with military rites by VFW Post 1275. Friends may call from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday and one hour prior to services Friday at the funeral home. Memorial contributions may be made to Faith Baptist Church.