Dr. Wallace E. Holmes

Dr. Wallace Eugene Holmes, 92, passed away peacefully on October 9, 2025, in Groton, New York.

Wally was born in Ithaca, NY on April 3,1933, to Russell Ditmars Holmes and Alice Caslick Holmes who lived on Titus Road, later renamed Westhaven Road. Later, the family moved to a farm outside of Groton, NY, and then to a farm on McClintock Road in Dryden, NY.

While growing up, Wally developed a love and deep respect for farm and domestic animals while helping his dad and mom cultivate the land and livestock on their dairy farm. When not milking cows or loading hay wagons, Wally attended Dryden High School, graduating in 1951. After high school, he attended Cornell University where he earned a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (D.V.M.) in 1958.

While pursuing his undergraduate studies, Wally met and later married his wife, Dr. Dorothy F. (Nielsen) Holmes who was likewise pursuing a degree in veterinary medicine. After earning their degrees and obtaining their licenses to practice, Wally and Dotty moved to Groton, NY to raise their growing family and established Groton Veterinary Hospital, a private small and large animal practice that served the surrounding communities for more than 60 years.

In addition to building their veterinary clinic adjacent to their house in Groton, Wally dreamed of raising a beef cow and Dotty a horse so they built a small barn, drove a well point, and erected a split-rail fence enclosure on the property. While the beef cow never materialized, an Arab-Welch pony soon arrived. Before long, they built a second barn to house their growing horse stable, Homespun Morgans. Together, Wally and Dotty successfully bred, raised, and showed multiple champion Morgan horses, including the 1985 Grand National Amateur Park Saddle Stallions Champion and Amateur Park Saddle Reserve World Champion, Homespun Commotion. Homespun Commotion’s full sister, Homespun Lady Command, was Wally’s favorite pleasure driving mare, and won the 1983 New England Amateur Pleasure Driving East Coast Championship with Wally at the reigns. With their horse operation established and growing, Dotty and Wally spent many summers juggling careers, kids, and community engagement around the summer horseshow circuit.

When not doctoring animals or tending to his horse farm, Wally loved to sing and dance, and taught himself to play the mandolin. He pursued his passion for music through various channels including as a cast member in 1970’s productions by the former Moravia Guild and Dryden Footlighters of the hit musicals, Mame and Brigadoon.

Wally loved the community of Groton. He was active in Rotary for many years including rolling up his sleeves along with several fellow Rotarians and community members to build, over fifty years ago from locally-sourced railroad ties, the “Welcome to Groton” signs that stood at the entrance point of each main thoroughfare into Groton, one of which still remains across from Groton Central High School. Wally was also an active Groton Community Church congregation member, serving on various committees and participating in the choir, including multiple years singing “Oh Holy Night” solo during the annual Christmas Eve candle light service. At every opportunity, Wally endeavored to contribute his time and energy to serving the community of Groton.

During the 1970’s he served on the Groton School Board and was also active in the effort to establish and build an expanded and dedicated facility for Groton’s senior citizen apartments and nursing home complex that today houses the Center Village Court Apartments and Groton Community Health Care Center. Wally supported community events like Groton Old Home Days where he enjoyed participating in the parade with one of his horses drawing an antique doctor’s buggy, and the Tompkins County free rabies vaccination clinics held at the Groton Fire Station where he would donate his time and professional skills.

Wally is preceded in death by his parents, Russell Ditmars Holmes and Alice (Caslick) Holmes, his sister, Joyce Holmes McAllister (John J.), and his wife, Dr. Dorothy (Nielsen) Holmes. He is survived by his daughter Barbara E. Holmes of Phoenix, AZ, son Stephen W. Holmes of Groton, NY, daughter Cynthia J. Holmes and son-in-law Robert D.Williams of Los Angeles, son William T. Holmes and daughter-in-law Christine (Monchamp) Holmes of Groton, NY, and five grandchildren: Emilie Holmes of Dallas, TX; Camille Holmes of Los Angeles, CA; Robert, Ryan and Brett Williams of Los Angeles, CA.

A celebration of life will take place at 6 p.m. on Saturday, November 15, 2025, with calling hours from 4 to 6 p.m. at Shurtleff Funeral Home, 103 Lincoln Avenue, Groton.  Private interment in Groton Rural Cemetery will be at a later time.

In remembrance of Wally’s life, the family suggests that any charitable donations be made to Groton Community Health Care Center (GCHCC), 120 Sykes St., Groton, NY 13073.  Online condolences may be shared with the Holmes Family at www.shurtleffservices.com .