Donald Holmes Obituary

Donald Holmes passed suddenly on May 4, 2010, at his home in Colorado Springs at the age of 77. Born on December 3, 1932, in Roswell South Dakota to Ruby Bennett and Lloyd Holmes, Don spent parts of his childhood in South Dakota, Santa Barbara, California, and Beaumont, California. He graduated from Beaumont High where he lettered in baseball, basketball, and was the starting quarterback of the league champion Beaumont High Cougars. After an honorable discharge from the Navy in 1954 Don married Barbara Saunders. They settled in Burbank, California, where Don had two children, Doug and Claudia, and where he worked manufacturing precision aircraft parts for 49 years. Along with his loving partner of 32 years, Patricia Potts, Don retired to Colorado Springs in 2005 to be closer to his devoted daughter Claudia Lovelace, son-in-law Jeff and Don's grandchildren Kimberly and Garrison. Don is also survived by his son Doug, his cousin Robert Sasso, and Patricia's pug "Valentine," who Don lovingly referred to as "Quasi Modo." Don loved friendly competition playing softball, pool, cards, and most of all golf. Though opinionated and frank, it was always with endearing humor and keen observations about life. Those who knew him loved him. Don, you have left us all better people for having known you; we are full of your stories, all of them good, which we will share for the rest of our lives.