Holmes

Christopher M. Holmes (Age 82)

With sadness, the family of Christopher M. Holmes, announces his death which occurred on November 29, 2023 following a battle with pancreatic cancer. Chris, a long time resident of Northern Virginia, lived seven years in the Vinson Hall Retirement Community of McLean. Chris was born in Hartford, Connecticut on May 1, 1941. He was the middle child of three, between brother David P. Holmes (Ann D. Holmes) and sister, Meredith Holmes (Loretta Feller) to parents Robert W. Holmes and Doris P. Holmes of Moorestown, NJ.

Chris graduated with honors from Moorestown High School, playing on the varsity basketball team that won New Jersey State Championships in 1958 and 1959. Chris graduated from Tufts University in 1963 with a bachelor's degree in Economics. Later, he received a master's degree in Economics from American University and attended the National War College.

Hired as an analyst for the CIA, his career spanned 36 years where he reached the distinction of Senior Intelligence Service Officer and was awarded the Distinguished Intelligence Medal.

Chris married his high school sweetheart, Midge Walton. Recently, they celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary. Chris is survived by Midge, their son, Robert Aubrey Holmes (Shella Holmes), their children Tieran, Qiana, and Phineas; son, Allen Walton Holmes (Robin Shin), his son Christopher Allen Holmes (Becca Choy); and daughter, Johanna Holmes Boyers (Tyrone Byrd) and her daughter Faith.

A lover of sports, he was a dedicated coach for his children, and later assisted his daughter, Johanna, coaching girls' basketball. He was a player and also president of Northern Virginia Senior Softball. At Vinson Hall, Chris and Midge successfully advocated for the construction of a sports park where they enjoyed the game of pickleball. A life long Philadelphia sports fan, Chris cheered for the Phillies, Eagles, and 76ers.

A Celebration of Life Service for Chris will take place Sunday, December 10, at 2 p.m. in the Alford Auditorium at Vinson Hall. In lieu of flowers, charitable contributions in his name may be made to The National Pancreatic Cancer Foundation (www.npcf.us [npcf.us]), or to Mosaic Harmony Choir, 2961A Hunter Mill Road #611, Oakton, VA 22124.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by The Washington Post on Dec. 5, 2023.

Memories and Condolences
for Christopher Holmes

11 Entries

J R Matthews

February 10, 2025

Chris and I joined the CIA together the 1960s. He was a fine man.Our travels and assignments separated us but I still remember him well

Jim Bono

December 18, 2024

Number 1: Chris was a perfect next-door neighbor: always cheerful, always welcoming, smart, humorous, and eager to offer counsel about the neighborhood we moved into.
Number 2: I hadn't known him back in the day, but when I saw photos of him from 40 years earlier, I was astonished to see how closely he resembled actor Peter Graves from the 1960s spy show "Mission Impossible." That he spent a career in the "spook" business convinced me the show's producers patterned the show's lead character, Jim Phelps, after Chris.
Number 3: The love between Chris and Midge was so strong it was palpable. It enveloped every conversation I had with them, and permeated their whole house. If ever The Lord delighted in a marriage of His children, it was theirs.

Bill Harris (ATO Brother)

May 8, 2024

Chris put up with me as a roomie in the ATO house for our second semester sophomore year after I fled my senior roomies down the hall, whose only interest was partying until the wee hours. He was rooming with Bill Regan so they were able to squeeze my desk in.

I have many fond memories of playing with Chris on our fraternity softball and football teams - he was a great athlete!

Jim and Jane Bono

December 13, 2023

We lived next door to Chris and Midge at the lake for the past five years, and could not have wished for friendlier neighbors. The warm welcome we received convinced us it was the right place to move permanently when we retired. It was a joy and a gift from God to have known him even for so brief a time.

Henry E. "Hank" David, D. O.

December 9, 2023

A Wonderful Tribute to a Wonderful Man
I Wish to Add a Most Kind and
Compassionate Person

Sincerely,
Henry E. "Hank" David, D. O.
MHS 1958

Betsy Haff

December 9, 2023

Midfielder, so sorry for your loss. You two had a great and long life together!! loved see all your adventures in the last years. I´m in a retirement home my self but nothing
like yours. We have known each other for a long time. Love Betsy Hafg

James W Harris

December 8, 2023

Sorry to hear about Chris, who was my office director for a time in the 1990s. That was one of my best and most gratifying assignments. Chris was an imaginative executive and a pleasure to know and work for.

Bruce Ebner

December 7, 2023

Sorry to hear about him. Played softball with him who was a heckava player. Haven't talked to or seen him in years. He will be missed.

Adam Wasserman

December 7, 2023

Chris was a wonderful colleague and mentor at work, and a fun-loving but serious competitor in our fantasy baseball league for almost 40 years. His motto,"It´s a long season!", applies to all of life, not just baseball.

Paul Rossa

December 6, 2023

Chris was a cherished friend to those of us who played fantasy baseball with him for 38 years. This picture shows him in the Spring of 2015 closing his briefcase full of baseball research materials as we ended our annual player draft. He was a strong competitor with a special knack for ensuring that the game was fun for all of us. We were lucky to have known him for so many years and lucky that he has left us with many fond memories.

Lou Kaiser

December 6, 2023

I was very sorry to hear of Chris´ passing. We were in the same fantasy baseball league for many, many years. He had a terrific wit, and made us all laugh. Some of his one-liners have endured and become part of the folk lore of our league. We will miss him.

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