Lance Arnold Holmes of Whitinsville passed away unexpectedly on Tuesday, May 22. Lance was born in Brockton on September 30, 1951 to the late Arnold and Marjorie (Armstrong) Holmes and grew up in Dedham graduating from Dedham High School in 1969. Upon graduation, he entered the Coast Guard, training as an electronic technician.
During the Vietnam War he was assigned to the USCGC Spencer. Lance was proud of his wartime experience and when the Spencer was decommissioned in 1974, he transferred to Chatham Lighthouse Station, retiring from active duty in 1975 with the rank of Telephone Technician 3rd Class Petty Officer. For the next 8 years he remained an active Air Force reservist with the rank of Staff Sergeant at Westover AFB, Chicopee and later Hanscom AFB, Bedford.
Lance graduated with honors from the University of Lowell in 1979 with a degree in Electrical Engineering and began his 35+ year career as a senior software engineer. At the time of his death, he was a consultant at Lockheed Martin (Leidos) in Eagan, MN. Lance’s hobbies were many.
A clarinet player who spent time in college as a DJ, he was a lover of all music genres with a great knowledge of musical trivia. As a former “Coastie” he was a boat owner and fisherman and delighted in attending the USCGC Spencer reunions. His other interests included golfing, bowling, the Red Sox and the Patriots.
He was an accomplished cook as well and was known by his family as their “Computer Guru”. Lance’s greatest attribute, however, was his extraordinary patience and calm. A man of few words, he was always willing to help a friend or neighbor in need.
He was the neighborhood go-to man for help with TV or computer problems, was generous with his snow-blowing of neighbors’ driveways, and had a soft spot for the stray cats his wife was always welcoming to their home. As a final act of kindness, Lance’s family has donated his eyes to give the gift of sight to someone in need. Lance is survived by his wife of 34 years, Lois (Riley), his daughters, Katherine of Whitinsville and Alison and her partner Mel Marcou of Auburn, his brother Wayne of Cincinnati, OH, his sister, Priscilla Lovely of Dedham, a niece, 2 nephews, and several cousins as well as a large group of friends with whom he shared over 40 years of friendship.
His funeral service will be held Tuesday, May 29, at 9:30AM in the Village Congregational Church, 5 Church Street, Whitinsville. Visitation with the family will follow in the church hall. Burial with full military honors will take place at the convenience of the family at the Massachusetts Veterans Memorial Cemetery, Agawam, MA.
In lieu of flowers, please honor Lance’s memory with a donation to the Bosler Humane Society, PO Box 12, Baldwinville, MA 01436.
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