Obituary of Clarence E. Holmes

Clarence E. Bruno Holmes, 74 years, of Peabody, husband of the late Kathleen F. (McLain) Holmes with whom he shared 37 years of marriage, died Tuesday at the Kindred Hospital Boston North Shore after a lengthy illness. Mr. Holmes was born March 2, 1929 in Cincinnati Ohio, son of the late Thomas and Susan (Dooley) Holmes. He was raised and educated at the Ohio Soldiers and Sailors Orphanage in Xania Ohio graduating in 1947. Following his graduation he enlisted in the United States Air Force. During his 20 year Air Force career he was stationed worldwide and served during the Berlin Airlift, Korea, Vietnam and Cuban Missile Crisis retiring as a Master Staff Sergeant on September 30, 1967. While stationed in the Philippines he often spoke with joy about the humanitarian work he had been a part of while being a member of the Free Mason of the Leonard Wood Lodge No.105 A.F. & A.M. After his retirement from the Air Force, he was then employed for 18 years as a Postal Clerk for the United States Postal Office in Beverly until his retirement in 1985. He was a member of the Italian Community Center in Beverly, the VFW and he forged many a friendship. He was an outdoorsman who loved hunting, fishing and gardening. He is survived by a daughter, Susan E. Robinson and her fiancé Eric Weiss of Milford, NH; a son, Charles W. Holmes of Peabody; 2 sisters, Virginia Mooney of Hamilton OH and Barbara Carol Paly of Phoenix AZ; 3 brothers, Charles Holmes of Ft. Myers Fl, Herman Holmes of Baltimore MD and Louis Holmes of Oxford OH; a grandson, Ian M. Robinson of Milford NH and several nieces and nephews. He was also the brother of the late William, Thomas and Wayne Holmes. A family celebration of life service will be held Saturday at 11 a.m. in the Conway, Cahill-Brodeur Funeral Home, at the 20 Church St., Peabody location (978.531.0472) to which relatives and friends are respectfully invited. There will be no viewing hours. Interment of ashes will be held at the convenience of the family. Memorial contributions may be made to the Salvation Army, 93 North St., Salem MA 01970.