Jerry Lee Holcomb

Jerry Lee Holcomb was welcomed by his beloved wife of over 50 years at the gates of heaven on Friday, Nov. 24, 2023, at the age of 81. He had been a resident of Anderson for nearly 35 years.

Jerry was born to Irwin and Vesta Holcomb on July 25, 1942, in Winamac, the third youngest of 10 children, seven boys and three girls. He developed his work ethic early, as there were no days off on the farm or in the field. Music was a huge part of the family, offering hour upon hour of instruments and voices in harmony and providing entertainment when work and school commitments were met.

Jerry was more ornery than studious in his younger days, therefore becoming better friends with the school principal than the teachers, and he found the structure he needed while faithfully serving in the 173rd Airborne Division of the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War. After returning home from the war, he rekindled with a former classmate of his, Patsy Leap, who he then courted and eventually married on June 23, 1968 – the best decision he ever made.

He returned to school and completed his associate degree in business and finance. Their journey together would take them across the country as he worked for financial institutions and she taught school, before finally returning home to Indiana and landing in Anderson.

Along the way, they raised two doting daughters, Shannon and Dulcie. Jerry also worked corrections for a number of years for the state of Indiana, and finally finished his working career in the trucking industry.

Ever the one to stay busy, this did not slow him down as he and his wife returned to his first love, music, in their retirement, performing for and bringing joy to those in nursing homes and assisted living facilities all over the state until shortly before her passing in 2021.

He developed two new interests in recent years, his woodworking and his Can-Am. Between creating and building beautiful projects or witnessing amazing scenery, and most recently with the plans for his girls to join him on the road, he certainly stayed busy right up until his final moments.

Quite possibly the most important development in Jerry's life happened just this year as he sought and found a personal relationship with God. He chose his home church, began his spiritual journey, and was baptized on June 11 at the age of 80 years, declaring his devotion to his Lord and Savior.

Jerry is preceded in death by his wife and soulmate, Patsy Holcomb (Leap); his parents, Irwin and Vesta Holcomb (Locks); his brothers Harold "Jum," Jeff, Thomas "Keith," Walt, and Joe; and sisters, Vivian "Biv" Mersch, Sally Reed, and Joan Utter; as well as his granddaughter, Savannah Grace Thompson.

He is survived by his two daughters, Shannon Rae Hartzell and Dulcie Lynn Holcomb, both of Anderson; his brother Orville (Kathryn) of Lowell; as well as beloved brothers- and sisters-in-law, cousins, and nieces and nephews from both sides of the aisle.

Services for Jerry will be Friday, Dec 1, at Fall Creek Christian Church, 1102 W. 700 South, Pendleton, IN 46064. The visitation will be from 10 a.m-noon, service to immediately follow officiated by Pastor Tom Wiles.

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to your local humane society or veterans organization, or planting something in his honor to watch it grow. Please take some time out of your day to do something for someone that they cannot do for themselves, and pay your blessings forward, as he did every day.