SOUTHWICK—Donald F. “Red” Holmes, 84, a resident of this town for 60 years, passed away on Wednesday, November 26,2014 at Genesis in Westfield surrounded by his loving family. Born & educated in Westfield, Red was the son of the late Bertha (Lindsey) Holmes, and was a 1948 graduate of Westfield High School, where he played Bomber football for many championship teams under Coach Bill Moge. He later attended Holyoke Community College where he received his degree in Criminal Justice.
Red worked for many years as a police officer for the Town of Southwick prior to his retirement. He also worked at Hamilton Standard and served in the U.S. Navy as an aviation electrician. He was a member of the Southwick Congregational Church, the Huntington Lodge of Masons for over 50 years, and was a member of the Southwick Rotary Club. He was a founding member of the Southwick Rec. Center where the sports complex was dedicated to Red in his honor.
Red & Joan traveled to all 50 states. Red along with the late Dante Molta started the jacket reward program at Southwick High for championship teams. This tradition continues to this day. Red was an active member of Southwick sports, coached many teams and umpired as well. He was an elected official to the Southwick Park & Rec. Committee. He enjoyed his daily stop at the Southwick McDonalds for coffee with his friends.
He is survived by his loving wife of 63 years, Joan R. (Hanson) Holmes, two sons, John M Holmes and his wife Lynn of Southwick, MA, Paul R. Holmes and his wife Dorrie of Granville, MA, two daughters, Cathy A. Bruce and her husband Andy of Westfield, MA, and Joanne “Dodie” Stafford and her husband John of West Suffield, CT, eleven grandchildren, Derek Holmes and his wife Tiffany, Dan Holmes and his wife Krystal, Donna Holmes Richards and her husband Tyler, Kelly Bruce Armstrong and her husband Bill, Kimberly Bruce, Karly Bruce, Ben Holmes, Nate Holmes and his wife Christina, Johnathan Holmes, Becky Holmes, & Matt Stafford, seven great-grandchildren, Evan, Dylan, & Addison Holmes, Colin & Connor Armstrong, Mason Cunningham, Lily Holmes, his brother in law John Hanson of Southwick, MA, and a niece Taryn Hanson of CO. He was predeceased by his Uncle Ray, and is survived by Ray’s wife and a niece & a nephew.
Funeral service will be held on Monday, December 1, 2014 at 11:00 AM in the Southwick Congregational Church, 488 College Highway, Southwick, MA. Burial in New Cemetery will be private. Family & friends may gather at the Southwick-Forastiere Funeral Home, 624 College Highway, Southwick on Sunday, November 30th from 3:00—7:00 PM.
Memorial contributions may be made to Shriners Hospital for Children, 516 Carew St., Springfield, MA 01104 and the Southwick Recreation Center, Powder Mill Rd., Southwick, MA 01077
