Robert Albert Holmes
Robert Albert Holmes, MD United States Army Retired, born May 3, 1933 in Lansford, Pennsylvania. Dr. Holmes died peacefully with his family surrounding him on Saturday, March 31, 2011. He is survived by his wife of 53 years, Gwendolyn Holton Holmes. Known to many as "Bob", he is also survived by his daughter, Allison Ann Holmes and husband, Patrick Porter Stewart of Albuquerque; sons, Major Robert Clark Holmes, USAF, and wife, Tamy Holmes, of Louisville, Kentucky, and Bruce Mitchell Holmes, and wife, Rebecca Shonfeld Holmes, of Albuquerque; grandchildren, Annie Elizabeth, Owen Mitchell, Sarah Grace and Margaret Ryan Holmes. Dr. Holmes is further survived by his sisters, Ann Mitchell and Mary Jane Gomes, both of Naples, Florida; sister and brother-in-law, Bonnie and David Holten MD of Albuquerque; and many nieces and nephews in Florida, Texas, and Washington. He was preceded in death by his parents, Ester Caldwell and Elmer E. Holmes. Bob graduated from Lansford High School and turned down an appointment to the U.S. Military Academy to study at the University of Pennsylvania where he played football and earned his bachelor's degree in chemistry and zoology. He received his medical degree from Temple University, in Philadelphia. He was a board certified Internest. As an Army physician Dr. Holmes practiced at several U.S. Army hospitals all over the world including; Germany, Hawaii, Kentucky, Texas, Maryland, Virginia, California, New Mexico and Washington, DC. Dr. Holmes was the Chief Medical Officer of the Sandia Base Hospital, Tripler Army Medical Center, Assistant Chief of Staff, Walter Reed Medical Center and the Director of the Rader Clinic at Ft. Myer Virginia. During his tenure as a military physician he treated many notable patients including First Lady Mamie Eisenhower, General Omar Bradley, General George C. Marshall, Premier Lon Nol of Cambodia, King Hussein of Jordan and Secretary of State Alexander Haig. However, more importantly, he honorably cared for untold soldiers, sailors, marines and airmen returning from conflict and military service, as well as their families. Colonel Holmes was the official doctor of the United States Senate as well as the attending physician for the National Symphony Orchestra for both domestic and overseas travel. Among his many military decorations, he was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal, the Distinguished Service Medal and the Legion of Merit. After retiring from the Army, Dr. Holmes was the Medical Affairs Director for ARAMCO in Saudi Arabia, Vice President of Medical Affairs for Tricare, and the Medical Director of FHP New Mexico. Bob retired after over 35 years of medicine. Services will be on Saturday, April 7, 2012, 11:00 a.m., at French - Lomas Chapel. He will be interred at Arlington National Cemetery with full military honors. The family requests in lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Albuquerque Chapter of the Military Officers Association of America (ALBUMOAA) P.O. Box 5071, Albuquerque, NM 87185-5070 on behalf of the Wounded Warriors Project.