1931
Leon
2021
Leon Holmes
December 31, 1931 — August 31, 2021
Francis Leon Holmes, devoted servant of God and follower of Jesus, entered into Heaven on August 31, 2021. He leaves behind a legacy of love, compassion, and service to God, his family, and his nation.
Known to friends and family as "Leon," he was born in Ramer, Alabama on December 31, 1931.
The son of a Navy veteran, he grew up during the Great Depression, an experience that influenced his life to the very end. The hardships from the Depression, and his later enlistment into the U.S. Army shaped his view of the world. He understood the need to conserve resources, to protect the environment, and to embrace the natural world.
Leon enlisted in 1950, and after training, he was deployed to the Korean War. He later earned a Silver Star in Korea for displaying great courage to rescue fellow U.S. soldiers who were under attack by a numerically larger force. He also won a Bronze Star, as well as other high honors while serving the United States in Vietnam and other conflicts.
Leon married Opal Dean Johnston Holmes in September 1951, and from that union they started a family, which grew to three children, four grandchildren, and six great grandchildren.
Leon and Opal moved to Warner Robins in 1971, following his retirement from the Army after serving for 22 years. He then joined the Civil Service at Warner Robins AFB for an additional 23 years before retiring in 1994.
He and his wife both volunteered at the Houston County Medical Center in Warner Robins. In his spare time, he gardened, played golf and fished, and played dominoes, pinochle, hearts and spades with lifelong friends. Leon was an active member at Hartley Bridge Road Church of Christ in Macon.
Leon is survived by his children, Jerry and Paula Holmes of Fairhope, AL; Debbie and Tony Martin of Lawrenceville, GA; and Chris Holmes of Washington, D.C. He leaves behind several grandchildren; Jennifer and Rod Kinsey, Matthew and Shannon Holmes, Ashley and Shawn Brech, Allison Martin, and their respective children, and his loving sister Agnes Holmes of Millbrook, AL. He also is survived by his dear friend Katherine Woodard.
Leon was preceded in death by his wife Opal in August 2015.
Due to Covid-19 restrictions, the general public may not attend a formal visitation. Instead, friends and family may gather in an unstructured manner to pay their respects to Leon at Fairhaven Funeral Home, at 4989 Mount Pleasant Church Road in Macon, beginning Friday, September 3, 2021 from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
On Saturday, September 4th, invited immediate family members will hold a visitation at Fairhaven beginning at 10 a.m. At 11 a.m., Minister Stephen Waller of the Hartley Bridge Road Church of Christ will officiate a celebration of Leon's life. Due to COVID, only immediate family members who are invited may attend.
Because of COVID restrictions, burial at Georgia Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Milledgeville will take place, for immediate family only, on Thursday, September 9 at 2:30 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, Leon's family requests donations in his name to the volunteer Auxiliary of Houston Medical Center and/or to the Heart of Georgia Hospice at Perry Hospital.
FairHaven Funeral Home and Cremation Services has charge of arrangements
Known to friends and family as "Leon," he was born in Ramer, Alabama on December 31, 1931.
The son of a Navy veteran, he grew up during the Great Depression, an experience that influenced his life to the very end. The hardships from the Depression, and his later enlistment into the U.S. Army shaped his view of the world. He understood the need to conserve resources, to protect the environment, and to embrace the natural world.
Leon enlisted in 1950, and after training, he was deployed to the Korean War. He later earned a Silver Star in Korea for displaying great courage to rescue fellow U.S. soldiers who were under attack by a numerically larger force. He also won a Bronze Star, as well as other high honors while serving the United States in Vietnam and other conflicts.
Leon married Opal Dean Johnston Holmes in September 1951, and from that union they started a family, which grew to three children, four grandchildren, and six great grandchildren.
Leon and Opal moved to Warner Robins in 1971, following his retirement from the Army after serving for 22 years. He then joined the Civil Service at Warner Robins AFB for an additional 23 years before retiring in 1994.
He and his wife both volunteered at the Houston County Medical Center in Warner Robins. In his spare time, he gardened, played golf and fished, and played dominoes, pinochle, hearts and spades with lifelong friends. Leon was an active member at Hartley Bridge Road Church of Christ in Macon.
Leon is survived by his children, Jerry and Paula Holmes of Fairhope, AL; Debbie and Tony Martin of Lawrenceville, GA; and Chris Holmes of Washington, D.C. He leaves behind several grandchildren; Jennifer and Rod Kinsey, Matthew and Shannon Holmes, Ashley and Shawn Brech, Allison Martin, and their respective children, and his loving sister Agnes Holmes of Millbrook, AL. He also is survived by his dear friend Katherine Woodard.
Leon was preceded in death by his wife Opal in August 2015.
Due to Covid-19 restrictions, the general public may not attend a formal visitation. Instead, friends and family may gather in an unstructured manner to pay their respects to Leon at Fairhaven Funeral Home, at 4989 Mount Pleasant Church Road in Macon, beginning Friday, September 3, 2021 from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
On Saturday, September 4th, invited immediate family members will hold a visitation at Fairhaven beginning at 10 a.m. At 11 a.m., Minister Stephen Waller of the Hartley Bridge Road Church of Christ will officiate a celebration of Leon's life. Due to COVID, only immediate family members who are invited may attend.
Because of COVID restrictions, burial at Georgia Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Milledgeville will take place, for immediate family only, on Thursday, September 9 at 2:30 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, Leon's family requests donations in his name to the volunteer Auxiliary of Houston Medical Center and/or to the Heart of Georgia Hospice at Perry Hospital.
FairHaven Funeral Home and Cremation Services has charge of arrangements
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Leon Holmes, please visit our flower store.
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