Radm Alfred C. Holmes Noaa (ret.)

Retired Rear Admiral NOAA Alfred C. "Bud" Holmes, Director NOAA Atlantic Marine Center, of Virginia Beach, VA, died June 2, 2009, in Virginia Beach, VA. Born on March 6, 1922 in Portland, Oregon, he joined the Navy in 1942 and became a carrier based torpedo plane pilot in the war in the Pacific. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross twice, the Air Medal five times, the Presidential Unit Citation, and numerous Area Theater Campaign ribbons. He graduated from Oregon State University and was selected to join what was then the Commissioned Corps of the Coast and Geodetic Survey, now the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. He served many years at sea aboard four of NOAA's hydrographic survey vessels, Command at Sea twice. Ashore, he served three years on field parties conducting Geodetic Triangulation. He was detailed for training one year with the U.S. Air Force where he graduated as Navigator, Bombardier, Radar Operator. He navigated a U.S. Coast Guard aircraft doing aerial photography for Photogrammeteric mapping. He became NOAA's first officer to be assigned pilot duties when he flew photo mapping aircraft. He graduated from the U.S. Army's Helicopter training. In addition he flew FAA aircraft for NOAA. He was active in the United States Power Squadron as Past Commander of the Virginia Beach Squadron and Past Commander of District 5. He was a member of Norfolk Rotary Club since 1970 and continued active in all their charitable enterprises. Survivors include his loving wife, Ingeborg Holmes; daughters, Audrey Lynge, Linda McLoughlin and Melany Selcer; step-son, Michael Brasher; grandchildren, Lisa, Michael Christopher, Anne, and Kathryn; and great-grandchildren, Grace, Sean and Carli. A memorial service will be held at Hollomon-Brown Funeral Home, Great Neck Chapel on Saturday, June 6, 2009, at 11 a.m. His ashes will be spread at sea by NOAA. Donations may be made to Norfolk Rotary Club in lieu of flowers. Condolences may be offered to the family at www.hollomon-brown.com.