Obituary of Harold W. Holmes

Harold Wayne Holmes, 78, of Wichita Falls, Texas, passed away on April 8, 2020, at 3:40 a.m. in Dallas, Texas, as a result of complications due to cancer. The memorial service will be postponed until August 2020, due to the Covid-19 outbreak. Harold was born November 25, 1941, in Pampa, Gray County, Texas, to Verga (Garton) and Benjamin Holmes. His father died within days of his birth, due to surgical complications. For many years, Harold Wayne lived with his Mamaw Alpha Garton or his Uncle Linnus and Aunt Nettie (Garton) Cates and his cousins: Darryl, Gerald, and Nancy. Most of his childhood stories included these very cousins and lots of crazy antics. Around the age of 13 or 14, Harold moved back in with his mother and her husband, Roy Binion, who would be wonderful grandparents to both of his children until they preceded him in death in 1994 and 1997, respectively. He grew up between Booker and Perryton, Texas, graduating from Perryton High School. He was a helicopter pilot in Vietnam and was medically discharged following a crash during his tour. From his first marriage to Elizabeth Montgomery, a son, Kelly Wayne, was born in 1963. Kelly preceded Harold in death in 2016 leaving behind his widow, Tonja (Sanchez) Holmes-Moon; four of Harold’s grandchildren: Christopher and his wife Johanna, Ashleigh, Robbie, and Rebekah; and six great-grandchildren, one great-grandchild having preceded him in death. From his second marriage to Frances Hamer, another son, Scott William, was born in 1974. Scott and his wife, April (Novack), have three children: Ryan, Lexi, and Rhonda. Harold was always known as an excellent salesperson. He sold advertisements for many years and ran his own remodeling company at the time of his death. He enjoyed going to the lake for water skiing or boating, reading science fiction, and playing video games like Colonization. His favorite pastime though was planning and maintaining his saltwater fish tanks. He could get things to thrive in his tanks that professional aquariums struggled with. He loved to serve on the security teams at the churches he attended both in San Antonio and Wichita Falls. In San Antonio, he was known as “The Candy Man” because he always had a friendly smile and a little treat for the children attending services. In Wichita Falls, he was “The High Five Guy,” greeting young parishioners as they came through the parking lots each Sunday. When he entered the hospital, the kids missed him so much that the whole security team took over the “High Five” duties. Father, grandfather, great-grandfather, and friend, Harold will sorely be missed, but we will see him again in eternity. “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.” John 5:24