David Holmes

1943 - 2014

CWO-5 DAVID HOLMES, Ph.D. U.S. Marine Corps, Retired David L. Holmes, 71, of Henderson, passed away at home Oct. 8, 2014, after a long struggle with Lewey Bodies disease. He was born Jan. 4, 1943, in Hammond, Ind., to Hannah (nee Robertson) Holmes and Victor Leo Holmes, their only child. He graduated from Morton H.S. in Hammond, attended Lincoln College in Illinois, and then joined the U.S. Marine Corps. Later, he graduated from Vincennes University in Indiana with an AA, and was an outstanding alumni. He was a member of Alpha Chapter of Sigma Pi Fraternity. At Indiana State University, he graduated with both a BS and MS. When serving as president of Sigma Pi at Indiana State University, he met his future wife, of 43 years, Barbara Ann Krajkoski (also an only child) and was married in 1971. David worked as a teacher at Rockville Correctional Center in Indiana and teaching fellows at Indiana State and the University of Utah. He earned his PhD in recreation (high-risk sports) in 1971. He taught at NOLS East, led trips in the Boundary Water Canoe in Minnesota, and winter camping in the Tetons in Wyoming. He joined the Special Forces reserve unit in Utah, where his skydiving adventures began. He made close friends that continued throughout his life and yielded many thousands of "jumps." This passion led "Doc" to being a skydiver stuntman on the movie, "Navy Seals." In 1976, he accepted a teaching position, HPERD at UNLV, and joined the U.S. Marine Corp reserve unit, Fox Co, 2nd Bn, 23rd Marines, 4th Marine Division. David spent most summers on active duty and coached the Air Force Academy's "Wings of Blue" and Golden Knights parachute teams. As a chief warrant officer, infantry, he excelled at leading young Marines and served as the OIC for the Las Vegas Marines reserve and was activated for Desert Storm, retiring in 2003. David taught in UNLV College of hotel administration, where he completed his 30 years of service and earned many awards, including professor emeritus. After moving to Henderson in 1997, David was appointed to the advisory board for the Henderson Parks and Recreation Department, where many of his graduates were employees. David was a member of Vegas #32, F & AM, Zelzah Shriners and Sunrise Chapter, Eastern Star. He traversed the State of Nevada many times as the escort for his wife in 2010-2011. In 1981, David and Barbara were blessed with the birth of their only child, Susan Ann Sky Holmes. They were devastated when she lost her battle to Gaucher's Disease in 2000. David is survived by his wife, Barbie; aunt, Mary Robertson of Indiana; plus cousins. Jane (Bill) Salin, Judy (Jim) Lambert and Mary Agnes Stackhouse, all of Indiana; many beloved second cousins; Goddaughter, Tracy (Doug) Dickinson of Washington; and many friends who became the "family he chose." David had a deep faith in God and was a member of First Henderson United Methodist Church. Services will be at 5 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 18, at Palm Mortuary, 800 S. Boulder Highway, Henderson. A reception will follow at the family home. He will be laid to rest by his daughter at Palm Memorial Park-Henderson. In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory to the UNLV Foundation for the Holmes Memorial Scholarship, Box 451006, 4505 S. Maryland Parkway, Las Vegas, NV 89154-1006 or to the Shriners Hospitals for Children, c/o Zelzah Shriners, 2313 S. Eastern Ave., Las Vegas, NV 89104 would be appreciated.