Charles H. Holmes

HOLMES, Charles H. Charles H. Holmes, 89, of Simsbury and Bloomfield, beloved husband of Mary Celestine (Phelan) Holmes, died Tuesday, (May 29, 2007) at St. Francis Hospital. He was born April 5, 1918 in Rochester, NY, son of the late W. Harvey and Lillian (Popp) Holmes and had lived in Simsbury for 53 years prior to moving to Seabury in Bloomfield in 2004. He was a graduate of the Aquinas Institute of Rochester and of St. Michael's College in the University of Toronto. He had served in the United States Ninth Air Force for four and a half years of active duty in World War II, both in the United States and in Europe, and completed 20 years in the Air Force Reserve, retiring with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. Charles was employed for 38 years by the Phoenix Mutual Insurance Company prior to his retirement from the position of Second Vice President and Controller in 1984. He was a member of St. Bernard's Parish in Tariffville, Sacred Heart Church, Bloomfield and of the Simsbury Bishop John J. Nilan Knights of Columbus Council 2758. For 40 years he served as Treasurer of St. Mary's Federal Credit Union in Simsbury and continued to work there through August 2003. For 44 years he was also a Director of the Phoenix Credit Union. Charles was a life long trombone player and enjoyed choral singing. Besides his wife of 64 years he is survived by two daughters, Jane Jones of Latham, NY and Mary Ann and her husband Ronald Jeancon of Kinderhook, NY; two sons, Peter Holmes and his wife Judith Long of San Francisco and William Holmes and his wife Candace of Wethersfield; a sister, Thelma Holmes of Gainesville, FL; two granddaughters, Lisa Delissio and her husband Jose Nieto of Salem, MA and Juliana Holmes of Wethersfield; a grandson Alexander Holmes of Wethersfield and two great grandsons, Joshua Pendleton of Rutland, VT and Joshua's mother, Sarah Christie and Lucas Harvey Nieto. He was predeceased by a grandson, Terence Pendleton and a granddaughter, Jordan Holmes. There are no calling hours. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Saturday, June 2, 10 a.m. at Sacred Heart Church, 26 Wintonbury Avenue, Bloomfield. Burial with military honors will be in Simsbury Cemetery. A reception will follow the burial at Sacred Heart Church. In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made to American Heart Association, 2550 US Highway 1, North Brunswick, NJ 08902-4301. Vincent Funeral Home, 880 Hopmeadow Street, Simsbury is assisting the family with the arrangements.