Benjamin Holcomb Jr.

Benjamin Franklin Holcomb, Jr.

1918 - 2012

Benjamin Franklin Holcomb, Jr. passed away peacefully on August 5, 2012.

Ben, "Grand-daddy", as he was known to the family was born on June 18, 1918 in Clermont, GA. The son of the late Dr. Benjamin F. Holcomb and Bessie Christopher Holcomb, he lived his childhood and young adult life in Gainesville, Georgia.

His College experience included The North Georgia Military College, The United States Military Academy at West Point, and finally The University of Georgia, where he graduated in 1940 with a degree in Accounting. It was later that year that he met his future wife, Mary Frances Nicholls, and they were married in April, 1941. They celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary, together, in 2011. On December 12, 1941 Ben entered the US Army as a Second Lieutenant serving state-side for all of World War II in the Adjutant General Corp. He was discharged from active duty in 1945 as a Lieutenant Colonel. Following 20 years in the Army Reserves he retired as a full Colonel. After active military duty Ben began a successful 32 year executive career with US Steel Corporation in Birmingham, AL and Pittsburgh, PA. During the last years in Pittsburgh he served as The Executive Assistant to the President and the US Steel liaison with The US Bureau of Labor Statistics. Ben Retired from US Steel in 1976 and he and Mary Frances moved to Pensacola, Florida.

During the ensuing 36 years in Pensacola, Ben served as extraordinary husband, father and grandfather, family boat captain, ski instructor, fisherman, craftsman, maintenance man, and artist's assistant to Mary Frances Holcomb. We will miss him.

Ben is survived by a son, Benjamin F. Holcomb, III and wife Barbara Johnston Holcomb (Alpharetta, GA) and a daughter, Carol Holcomb Mercer (Acworth, GA); five grandchildren, Sara B. Holcomb (Boston, MA), Benjamin F. Holcomb, IV (Savannah, GA), Blakely Mercer (Marietta, GA), Mary (Mercer) Hall and husband Greg Hall (Marietta, GA), and William Mercer (Marietta, GA). He also has two great grandchildren, Emily Hall and William Hall.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Alzheimer's Family Services in Pensacola.

A private memorial service is being held.

NATIONAL CREMATION AND BURIAL SOCIETY is entrusted with arrangements.



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