Richard Holmes

June 13, 1949 - August 24, 2024

Columbus, Georgia - Richard Earl Holmes, 75, beloved husband of Maria Haines Holmes, passed away at his home, on August 24, after bravely fighting Stage IV Pancreatic Cancer. Richard was born in Boston, Massachusetts on June 13, 1949 to the late Thomas George Holmes and the late Fredrica Trundy Holmes.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, September 7, 2024 at 11:00 A.M., Striffler Hamby Mortuary in the chapel. Visitation will be held from 10:00 A.M. until 11:00 A.M.

Immediately following the memorial service, a brief committal service will be held at the Chapel of the Pines Mausoleum at Parkhill Cemetery.

His early years were spent in Boston, Connecticut and Maine. Other years were spent at Camp Lejeune, N.C. and other locations while his Dad served in the Marines. Richard graduated in 1967 from Camp Lejeune High School. He loved spending summers working construction in Connecticut with his grandfather's construction company. He attended Appalachian State in Boone, N.C. on a football scholarship. After his freshman year, he attended the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill and completed his degree at UNC-Wilmington. It was there that he decided to become a Physician Assistant. He graduated from the Physician Assistant program at the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston, S.C.

His first job as a P.A. was in Columbus, GA with the Columbus Consolidated Government. He was then offered a job with the State of Georgia at Rutledge State Prison as their P.A. Next, he spent a short time at a small practice in Ellaville, GA. There was a great need for medical care in the small communities. After a couple of years, he was offered the opportunity of working at the Columbus Clinic where he enjoyed working for many years. Dr. Sebastian Hubbuch needed a great P.A. and Richard worked for Chattahoochee Valley Cardiology for nearly 20 years. The staff at CVC was family to him.

Richard enjoyed many sports, bust mostly tennis and golf. His dream trip to play in Scotland came true many years ago. He planned the whole trip and was lucky enough to get his golf buddies Jerry, Randy, and Mike to go along with him. He hiked a large portion of the Appalachian Trail, loved biking and exercising.

A few years after moving to Columbus, he was introduced by friends, Ramon and Susan on Memorial Day weekend 1984, to the love of his life, Maria Haines. They married a year later on June 1, 1985. They enjoyed traveling to New England, Nova Scotia, and many other beautiful places around the country. Charleston and 30-A in Florida, were two of their favorite places nearby. Their life together was blessed with wonderful family and friends and many happy memories.

Richard was predeceased by his parents, Tom and Fredrica Holmes, sister, Beth Staples, nephews, Chris Gray and Michael Haines and his father-in-law George William Haines, Jr.

Left to cherish his memory are his loving wife, Maria, mother-in-law, Gwen Haines, brother-in-law, Ralph Staples of Bangor, Maine, brothers and sisters-in-law, Gary and Theresa Haines, Todd and Barbara Haines, Scott and Donna Haines, and Jeff and Beth Haines. He is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews, and all of Maria's extended family. He was loved very much by his friends and his work family at Chattahoochee Valley Cardiology.

Maria is grateful for the care and compassion shown by everyone at the Columbus Hospice, the care given to him by Andrew Pippas, and the nurses at John B. Amos Cancer Center and for the support of Dr. Sebastian Hubbuch and Dr. Scott Womble throughout the years.

Flowers will be accepted, but donations may be made to the John B. Amos Cancer Center in Richard's memory, to the Columbus Hospice on Moon Road, Columbus, Georgia, Wynnton Methodist Church, Columbus, Georgia