George Wendell Holmes, son of the late George Hershel and Delores (Hicks) Holmes, was born May 21, 1954, in Columbus, Georgia, and departed this life March 16, 2022, at Baptist Memorial Hospital in Little Rock, Arkansas. He was 67 years, 9 months, and 26 days of age.
“GW” was raised and graduated high school in Dothan, Alabama, and then attended one year of college. He joined the rodeo circuit and was a bull rider. He then joined the United States Marine Corps on November 28, 1975, becoming a member of the Marine rodeo riding bulls. GW was a Lance Corporal by 1977 and obtained his Marine Corps Separation and Retirement Manual on December 13, 1979. He was serving as Military Police 5811 at the time of his honorable discharge on November 4, 1981. While serving, he received a BCM M 16 Marksmanship badge as well as a .45 Pistol Sharpshooter badge. He was always proud of his service as a Marine.
Following the military, GW worked on a ranch in Montana and then became a farrier, shoeing horses. He later went to work for Dairy Farmers of America in Cabool, Missouri, and worked there for nearly 20 years. He was qualified on all jobs in the canning department which netted him lots of overtime.
GW met the love of his life, “Pat”, at DFA and they were united in marriage April 29, 1995. GW’s mother told him he met his match because he had found a woman as hard headed as he was.
GW was forced to retire in February of 2008 due to health reasons. He enjoyed bowling and fishing with his wife and friends. He was always ready to volunteer to help anyone in need. He loved volunteering for the Bridge Church in Theodosia, Missouri.
GW always got to church early so he could vacuum the foyer, blow the sidewalk off, make coffee, and put out snacks. As long as he was able, he helped his wife, Pat, fix Wednesday supper for the Wednesday night crowd. His favorite was frying fish that he and Terry caught.
Besides his parents, GW was preceded in death by one niece, Tonya.
GW is survived by his wife, Pat, and daughter, Jasmine (his angel), both of the home in Theodosia, Missouri, daughter, Bobbie Johanson and her husband, Mike, and two grandsons, Jason and Jordan all of Harvard, Illinois, son Tanner Holmes of Ava, Missouri, two sisters, Gwen Ball and husband, Kenneth, of Slocomb, Alabama, and Sue Teal of Dothan, Alabama, two nieces, Amanda and Marie and their families of Dothan, Alabama, as well as many extended family and friends who will miss him dearly.
