William Richard Holmes

Lieutenant Colonel (Retired) William Richard Holmes, devoted husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, educator, counselor, and faithful servant of God, passed away peacefully at his home in Chesapeake, Virginia, on July 6, 2026, surrounded by the love of his family. He was 93 years old.

William was born on March 21, 1933, in a farmhouse near Hanna, Oklahoma, to Milton ("Milt") and Oda Holmes. The youngest of seven children, he grew up learning the values of hard work, humility, faith, and perseverance that would guide him throughout his life.

He graduated from Oklahoma State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Agriculture and earned his commission as a Second Lieutenant in the United States Army. On December 19, 1954, he married his childhood sweetheart, Annette Anthony, beginning a loving partnership that would span more than 71 years.

Following completion of the Basic Infantry Officer Course at Fort Benning, Georgia, William began a distinguished 20-year Army career. His assignments took him from Camp Chaffee, Arkansas, to Korea, where he served for 16 months, and later to Fort Holabird, Maryland, where he completed Military Intelligence training before serving with a Military Intelligence Battalion at Fort Bragg, North Carolina.

While stationed at Fort Wainwright, Alaska, with the 9th Infantry Battle Group, he commanded a mechanized infantry company and earned the coveted Expert Infantry Badge. After completing the Advanced Infantry Officer Course, he served as an advisor to Army Reserve units in Oklahoma City.

Preparing for his first tour in Vietnam, William attended the Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, completed the Military Assistance Training Advisor course at Fort Bragg, and studied Vietnamese at the Presidio of Monterey, California. During his first tour in Vietnam, he served as Assistant G-5 (Revolutionary Development) for I Corps in Da Nang. Following a three-year assignment with the Army General Staff in the Office of the Assistant Chief of Staff for Intelligence at the Pentagon, he returned to Vietnam as Advisor to the I Corps G-2 (Intelligence).

His courageous and dedicated service earned numerous military decorations, including the Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Air Medal, Expert Infantry Badge, and several awards from the Republic of Vietnam. He concluded his Army career at Fort Monroe, Virginia, with the Continental Army Command, retiring with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel after two decades of honorable service.

William then embarked on a second career devoted to helping young people. For the next 20 years, he served the Virginia public school systems in Hampton and Newport News as a guidance counselor and Director of Guidance. During this time, he earned two master's degrees in counseling from Hampton Institute and an Advanced Certificate in Counseling from the College of William and Mary. A respected leader among his peers, he served as President of the Peninsula Counselors Association, held several offices within the Virginia Counselors Association, and was honored with both the Virginia Counselor of the Year Award and the Virginia Counselor Humanitarian Award.

His commitment to serving others extended beyond his profession. William was deeply involved in his church and Christian camping ministries, serving as a deacon and as President of the Board of Directors of a Christian camp. After relocating to Oklahoma in 1994, he completed his counseling career at a middle school in Moore before retiring in 1998.

After retiring in 1998, William and Annette enjoyed nearly three decades of retirement together, traveling, playing cards, taking walks, attending sporting events, and occasionally enjoying a round of golf. Following their years in Oklahoma, they returned to Virginia in 2022, where they made their home in a beautifully renovated detached home on the property of their daughter, Cheryl, and son-in-law, Frank. Surrounded by family, they enjoyed spending precious time with their children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. William remained active in the Alameda Church of Christ, faithfully serving in several ministries, including Education Coordinator, Deacon, and Life Group Leader. His quiet leadership, unwavering faith, and servant's heart left a lasting impact on all who knew him.

Above all, William's greatest accomplishment was his family. He was a loving husband, a devoted father, and a proud grandfather and great-grandfather. He is survived by his beloved wife of more than 71 years, Annette Holmes; his son, William Richard Holmes Jr. of Charleston, West Virginia; his daughter, Cheryl Huotte and her husband, Frank, of Chesapeake, Virginia; his grandchildren, Susan Weldon of LaGrange, Georgia, Chelsea Ruby and her husband, Steve, of Charleston, West Virginia, and Bailey Holmes of Charlottesville, Virginia; and his cherished great-grandchildren, Nikolas Weldon, Robert Holmes Ruby, Caroline Lee Ruby, and Thomas William Ruby, as well as numerous nieces and nephews.

William was preceded in death by his parents, Milt and Oda Holmes; his six siblings; and his beloved son, George Milton Holmes.

Those who knew William will remember a man of unwavering integrity, quiet strength, humble leadership, and steadfast faith. Whether wearing the uniform of his country, counseling students, serving his church, or simply spending time with those he loved, he lived a life dedicated to serving others. His legacy of honor, compassion, wisdom, and love will continue to inspire all who were blessed to know him.

His family finds comfort in knowing that his well-lived life leaves an enduring legacy of faith, service, and love that will be treasured for generations to come.

A graveside service with full military honors will be held 11:00 a.m. Friday, July 31, 2026 at the Albert G. Horton Memorial Veterans Cemetery, 5310 Milners Rd, Suffolk, VA 23434

The family is requesting that, in lieu of flowers, donations may be made to: Camp Idlewild, 71 Idle Wild Lane, Spring Grove, VA 23881.

Arrangements and heartfelt guidance through Claytor Rollins Funeral Home.

Online condolences to claytorrollins.com.

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