LEBANON, NH– Richard Merrill Holmes, 76, passed Monday, October 7, 2024, at his home in Lebanon, surrounded by his family.
Rich was born July 17, 1948, in Boston, MA, to Edna C. (Peck) and Merrill F. Holmes, and was raised in the family homestead on S. Main Street in Sharon, MA. He earned an associate’s degree in electrical engineering from Wentworth Institute.
He enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1968 for a term of 3 years and served his country in Vietnam. He specialized in Fuel and Electrical System Repair and was responsible for salvage and repair of heavy equipment on the battlefield.
Rich was a Master Electrician who rose to the position of Supervisor of Operations at Granite State Electric before retiring. A lifelong learner, he kept his electrician’s license current through 2024 and earned an honorary Bachelor of Technology from Wentworth in 2018.
He dedicated himself to public service, serving for many years as both an EMT and Captain of the Charlestown Fire Department, with a particular focus on training and education.
In his free time, Rich loved working on projects, especially those that helped friends and family and involved his tractor or heavy machinery. He also enjoyed boating and cherished family time at Kathan Kamps on Great Sacandaga Lake in New York, where they would rent multiple cabins for two weeks in the summer.
Rich is survived by his wife, Jan Holmes of Lebanon, NH; sons, Chris Holmes of Brookline, NH and Daniel Holmes of Madbury, NH; grandsons, Andrew, Justin, and Charles; granddaughter, Elyse; and great-grandsons, Easton and Everett. He is also survived by his sister-in-law, Barbara Holmes, and his sister, Merilyn Holmes, and her children, Michael and Heather.
Rich was preceded in death by his first wife, Judith Hoffman Holmes of Sharon, MA, and his brother, Donald Holmes of Stoughton, MA.
Rich’s urn will be placed in Rock Ridge Cemetery in Sharon, MA, with his family.
To leave a message of remembrance or condolence, please visit the online guestbook at www.rickerfuneralhome.com.
