Robert D. Holmes Sr.

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ROUND PRAIRIE, Idaho — Robert Darral Holmes Sr., 79, passed away at his Round Prairie area home north of Bonners Ferry, Idaho, on Dec. 15, 2007, after a long battle with cancer. Funeral services will be Friday, Dec. 21, 2007, at 2 p.m. at Bonners Ferry Funeral Home in Bonners Ferry, Idaho, with interment following in the Grandview Cemetery. Robert was born on June 6, 1928, in Newton to Archibald Franklin and Helen LaVay (Lockhart) Holmes. He joined the U.S. Navy full time and reservist and served from 1945 through 1951 and was a recipient of the World War II Victory Medal and the Korean Service Medal. He was discharged as a Ships Serviceman 2nd Class. Upon discharge he worked as a police officer for the Newton Police Force for three years. On Dec. 13, 1952, Robert married Phyllis Jean Rankin in Kellogg. In 1960, they moved to southern California and worked at Palomar Mortgage Company and Security Pacific Bank in Riverside, Calif., until transferred to Security Pacific Bank Branch in Hemet, Calif., where he worked as a loan officer for several years. When the Bank of Hemet opened he went to work as a manager and he worked his way up to the Vice President position and then accepted an executive office placement with Kitchen Jewel Manufacturing. Robert was a member of the Masonic Lodge and the Rotary. He enjoyed raising quarter horses for many years and was an exceptional horseman. He was a pilot and built his own bi-plane stunt aircraft in his garage. He was an avid racquetball player and physical fitness enthusiast and a long time member of the Newton YMCA. Robert was a wood crafter, creating cigar humidors, carousel horses and furniture and was an artist and painter. Survivors include his wife, Phyllis; two sons, Bob Jr. and Rick Holmes; five grandsons, Eric Holmes, Craig Holmes, Zachary Thompson, Jessy Moore and Cody Moore; two granddaughters, Michelle Holmes and Amanda Holmes; one great-grandson, Wyatt Holmes; and one sister, Bonnie Stark. The family wishes to give a special thanks to the North Idaho Cancer Institute and Bonner Community Hospice. Family and friends are invited to sign Robert’s book at www.bonnersferryfuneralhome.com. Arrangements are entrusted to the care of Bonners Ferry Funeral Home.*