Edward "Ned" Holmes

1951 - 2024

Edward "Ned" Holmes, 72, died on St. Patrick's Day after a lengthy, hard-fought battle against cancer. His wife of 52 years, Maureen McCabe Holmes, was by his side every step of his fight. Born in Scranton on Sept. 10, 1951, he was the son of the late Richard R. and Mary Lou Brundage Holmes. Ned developed lifelong friendships in Scranton's public schools and graduated from Scranton Central in 1969.

He was a superb athlete who fondly recalled his youth playing everything from football to baseball to ping-pong at Weston Field. Ned excelled on the gridiron, diamond and wrestling mat at Central and starred in the 1969 Dream Game, quarterbacking the City to a win before more than 14,000 people. He attended Wilkes College and the University of Scranton, where he played football and baseball for the Colonels and club football for the Royals. Ned was proud of his time playing Legion baseball and as a member of the Scranton Red Sox squad of college-aged ballplayers. He also played for years in Scranton's highly competitive fast-pitch softball leagues.

Ned worked in a variety of professions before he became the go-to phone call for well drillers in the northeast for decades at Portadrill, Ingersoll-Rand and Atlas Copco.

The outdoors, especially fishing and hunting, were more than hobbies for him, they were a passion. If Ned wasn't trekking through the woods, you could find him taking a float on the Delaware River in a canoe or casting a line from a boat on a lake or pond. He was a proud member of the Park Place River Association and worked hard to make its annual fishing derby on the Lackawanna River in Scranton a success.

Ned enjoyed the "good stuff" in life with his family and friends, and was a devoted, adoring grandfather to his two grandsons. His role as their devoted "Grampa" filled his heart with joy.

Ned is also survived by his sons, Brian and wife, Pamela, and stepgrandchildren, Daniela and William Angelozzi, of Nazareth, Pa.; Patrick and fiancé, Will Dunn, of Endicott, N.Y.; Kevin and wife, Amy, and grandsons, Nate and Carter, of Phoenixville, Pa.; sister, Beth, Crystal Lake; sister-in-law, Teresa and fiancé, Rob Palonis, and niece, Mary and nephew, Matt, of the Pittsburgh area; and many extended family members. He was preceded in death by brothers Dick, Tim and John.

The funeral will be Saturday from the Albert P. O'Donnell Funeral Home, 2025 Green Ridge St., Dunmore, with a Mass of Christian Burial at 9:30 a.m. at St. Paul's Church, 1510 Penn Ave., Scranton. Interment, Cathedral Cemetery.

Friends may pay their respects Friday, March 22, from 4 to 7 p.m. at Albert P. O'Donnell Funeral Home. Those attending the service on Saturday are asked to go directly to the church.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Hospice of the Sacred Heart, 30 E.D. Preate Drive, Suite 108, Moosic, PA 18507; or St. Francis of Assisi Kitchen, 500 Penn Ave., Scranton, PA 18503.