Greenfield, MA - Stanley K. Holmes, 98, died Saturday 8/27/16 at the Buckley HealthCare Center in Greenfield.  He was born in Springfield, VT on November 25, 1917 the son of Henry G. and Gratha A. (Stearns) Holmes.  His father worked in many machine shops and finally ended up in Greenfield, MA where Stanley attended local schools and was a graduate of Greenfield High School Class of 1936.

He enlisted in the United States Army on March 26, 1942, at the age of 24.  Stanley was a Army Technician Fifth Grade in the 184th Port Company, 487th Port Battalion.  On August 20, 1943, he went overseas on the Cristobal, landing in Glasgow, Scotland and went on to Avonmouth, England by train, arriving there on September 4, 1943.  On June 6, 1944, Stanley was stationed in France until November 7, 1944, then Belgium until May 1, 1945, Germany until October 8, 1945, then Antwerp, Belgium until October 28, 1945.  He sailed the U.S.S. Thomas Johnson home, landing in Boston on November 10, 1945.

Stanley’s decorations include the Good Conduct Medal, the Victory Medal, the European African Middle Theater Campaign Ribbon with the Bronze Service Arrowhead and the American Theater Campaign Ribbon.  He received bronze stars for his service in Normandy, Northern France, Rhineland, Ardennes and Central Europe.  Stanley also received the Meritorious Service Wreath, the Sea Horse for Amphibious Operations and the Croix de Guerre with a Palm Leaf from the French Government.   He also received a “Diploma” of recognition in Normandy, France on D-Day, June 6, 1944, resulting in the liberation of France from the Germans. He was stationed on a supply ship during the invasion.

Stanley received an award on November 9, 2000 from the city of Antwerp, Belgium for his service there during 175 days of continuous enemy attacks during the “Battle of the Bulge”.

Stanley was given an early leave from the service and married his wife, Barbara, on October 12, 1942 -- this year they would have celebrated their 74th wedding anniversary.  Their granddaughter, Malenia, and her husband Eric were married on this same date in 2010 in their honor.

He worked at the Greenfield Recorder Gazette starting as a young boy delivering newspapers and upon his discharge from active service he was rehired as a linotype compositor working with dedication for perfection until his retirement in November 1982.

He enjoyed golf and was a member of the Oak Ridge Golf Club in Gill and a member of the Men’s Senior Golf League. They enjoyed golf excursions to Bermuda with friends. In earlier days he fast-pitched with the Bartlett’s Owls, the Inkies and numerous other area softball teams. He spent many years happily and proudly participating in his childrens’ school and after school activities and being with family. Cribbage games were a Sunday ritual with his daughter and she also, later in life, taught him to assist with cooking which he loved (other than just washing dishes!).  Stanley was a communicant of Blessed Sacrament Church in Greenfield.  He loved being outside in all seasons and while a resident at Buckley he was most often sitting on the porch or in the sunniest window.

Stanley and his wife Barbara also worked tirelessly for many years at the voting polling stations in Greenfield.

He loved to skate and, as a child, would go to Highland Pond and shovel off the snow with friends.  Last Veteran’s Day for a special surprise he was able to enjoy one more time on the ice at the Collins-Moylan Skating Rink in Greenfield and Barney Collins, of the Franklin County Sheriff’s Department, pushed him around the rink in his wheelchair -- with skates on -- he was in his glory!

Among his survivors, Stanley leaves his wife, Barbara R. (Englehardt) Holmes, a daughter, Shirley J. Holmes of Erving and a son, Donald K. Holmes of Rocky Hill, CT.  He also leaves two granddaughters, Malenia R. (Sibley) Carroll and her husband Eric of Nashville, TN and Sarah A. Holmes of Rocky Hill, CT.  He looked forward to being with and loved his two great-grandsons, Emmett William Carroll and Connor Michael Carroll of Nashville, TN.  For many years he was known as the “Patriarch” of the Holmes clan and from those roots leaves several nieces and nephews and their families.

He inherited the “Holmes trait”, as it was called, of dry wit and will be remembered by everyone for this and the twinkle he got in his eyes with his play on words and sense of humor.

Stanley was predeceased by his brothers Guild, George, Donald and Russell and his sister, Marion Tuttle. All served in separate branches of the service except for George -- very unique and special times for them meeting in places during the war that were never anticipated.

As both Barbara and Stanley were cremated there will be a double burial on Saturday, November 19, 2016. The family will be available for condolences from 9:00-10:00AM at Blessed Sacrament Church, Federal Street, Greenfield which will be followed by a Mass at 10:00. Burial will follow at St. Anne’s Cemetery in Turners Falls.

In lieu of any donations we would like to request that Barbara receive social visits on the second floor of Buckley Healthcare, Laurel Street, in Greenfield where she has been an Alzheimer’s/Dementia resident for 2 years and enjoys any and all interactions with visitors.  Conversations verge on “creating her own adventure” so be prepared for almost anything -- she will act like she remembers you but please recognize that this may not be the case. 

Because of the stroke and dementia care over the past few years by his closest caregivers it is requested that you consider an opportunity to volunteer your time in any nursing/assisted living facility to ease the burden of the staff. Every offer of help for individual social attention is always needed and received with smiles that will enrich your own life.

An abundance of heartfelt recognition and sincere appreciation is being given to the staff on the second floor at Buckley Healthcare Greenfield for their more than 2 years of caring for him during his residency.  Also a sincere thank you to the staff at the Recorder for taking his calls after his retirement requesting corrections of printed spelling and grammatical errors!  His favorite breakfast treat was Boston Creme donuts from Adams Donut Shop -- the Buckley staff and residents also enjoyed their favorite choices with him!

Dad/Gramp/Uncle Stanley (Jart Man)/Stanley was a most amazing person and was loved and will be missed by everyone who knew him.  There’s more that can be written in dedication here but as Paul Harvey ended every broadcast --- he told you a little bit more and then you knew “the rest of the story”.

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