John D. "Flash" Holmes, age 88 of Toronto, OH passed away Friday, September 5, 2014 surrounded by his loving family at the Trinity Medical Center, West, Steubenville, OH.

He was born April 11, 1926 in Toronto, OH the son of the late Thomas A. and Martha Ada (Arthurs) Holmes.

John was a life member of the Toronto V.F.W. Post 6906; was an avid woodworker and loved to make wood clocks; was retired from Laborer''s Local Union # 809; John D. Holmes would have graduated with the Toronto High School class of 1945 but was drafted into the U.S. Army in 1944 at the age of 18. He served in China, Burma and India as a telephone lineman for 18 mounths. He returned to the U.S. in 1946. He received the Victory Medal, the Asiatic Pacific Theater Ribbon with one bronze battle star, the National Defense Medal. He received an honorable discharge on July 27, 1946. He received his Toronto High School graduation diploma in 2002.
He was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Thomas, James, Bill, Dale and Benjamin Holmes; sisters, Cora and Barbara Ann Holmes, Martha Jane Knight, Beatrice Vantilburg, Margaret Kersey and Lucille Rawson Briggs; his lifelong companion of 31 years Carol Hays. John is survived by his sons, John (Michele) Holmes, Ron (Janet) Holmes and Bobby Joe (Nora) Holmes all of Toronto; daughters, Christine (Steve) Gray and Sondra (Roger) Hinerman; his former wife and mother of John''s children, Ruth Holmes Crowder of Calcutta, OH; brother, Walter D. Holmes of Elyria, OH step-sons, Paul and George Case, Billy and Michael Hayes and Edie Morris; his adopted honorary children Don and Cheryl Clarke. Many, many grandchildren and great-grandchildren survive. Visitation hours for John will be held from 1 to 4 and 6 to 8 Sunday, September 7th at the Clarke Funeral Home, 302 Main St., Toronto, OH.. Additional visitation from 10 to 11 A.M. Monday at the funeral home. A celebration service of John''s life will be held 11 A.M. Monday, September 8th at the funeral home with Pastor Raul Diaz officiating. Interment will follow at the Toronto Union Cemetery where the Toronto American Legion will present veteran''s honors. Memorial contributions in memory of John may be made to a charity of the donor''s choice.

Visitation Details

Sunday, September 7th, 2014, 1:00pm - 4:00pm, Clarke Funeral Home

Sunday, September 7th, 2014, 6:00pm - 8:00pm, Clarke Funeral Home

Monday, September 8th, 2014, 10:00am - 11:00pm, Clarke Funeral Home

Service Details

Monday, September 8th, 2014, 11:00am, Clarke funeral Home

Interment Details

Toronto Union Cemetery