FAMILY OWNED AND OPERATED FUNERAL HOMES SINCE 1881
| Thomas Joseph Holmes |
| December 31, 1929 - May 9, 2022 |
|
|
|
Public Events and LocationsViewing - Saturday, May 14, 2022, 10:15 to 11:15 AM at Wetzel and Son, RockledgeFuneral Mass - Saturday, May 14, 2022, 12:00 PM at St. Cecilia Church, Philadelphia Graveside Service - Saturday, May 14, 2022, 1:30 PM at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery, Cheltenham Military Honors - Saturday, May 14, 2022, 1:30 PM at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery, Cheltenham |
ContactsFuneral Home - Wetzel and Son Funeral Home - 419 Huntingdon Pike, Rockledge, PA 19046 - 215-663-8550 - Map |
| Clergy - St. Cecilia Church - 535 Rhawn Street, Philadelphia, PA 19111 - 215-725-1240 - Map |
| Cemetery - Holy Sepulchre Cemetery - 3301 West Cheltenham Avenue, Cheltenham, PA 19038 - 215-247-0691 - Map |
| Family Florist - Blake Florist - 5 Huntingdon Pike, Rockledge, PA 19046 - 215-379-8787 - Map |
| Donation - St. Joseph Villa - 110 West Wissahickon Avenue, Flourtown, PA 19031 - 215-836-4179 - Map |
Thomas Joseph Holmes joined his recently departed wife Patricia in heaven on May 9th, 2022, the day after Mother’s Day. Many family members residing there were waiting to welcome him home. Thomas was born December 31st, 1929 to Thomas and Myrtle Holmes (nee Eble) of Riverside, NJ.
Thomas is the beloved husband of the late Patricia Holmes; father of Thomas Holmes (Carol), Mary Elaine Holmes-Bricker (late Mark), Patricia Mathers (William), and Jennifer Granese (Vincent); grandfather to Brian and Peter Holmes and Laura Sanford (nee Holmes), Matthew, Moriah, Marina and Michael Bricker, Sarah Woods (nee Mathers), the late Shannon Mathers, Johnathan and Jessica Granese; great grandfather to Rui and Beatrix Holmes, Jacob Bricker, Reagan Woods and Henry Granese; dear brother of the late Rita Blindbury (nee Holmes), the late Elizabeth Schindler (nee Holmes), Dorothy Myers (nee Holmes) the late Myrtle Painter (nee Holmes), the late Steve Holmes and Bobby Ann Snow (nee Holmes).
Tom was born and raised in Riverside, New Jersey. He graduated from Saint Peter’s School in 1945 and Palmyra High School in 1949. Tom took electrical engineering courses from both Drexel and Spring Garden. He received an Associates Degree from Spring Garden Institute.
Tom is a veteran who served honorably in the U.S. Army in active duty from 1951 to 1953. He was stationed at Fort Bliss in Texas, where he received a Certificate of Proficiency in Artillery Radio Maintenance.
Tom married Pat in 1959 and they raised their family in the East Oak Lane area of the city where they were members of the Saint Joseph’s Catholic Church in Cheltenham.
Tom opened Thomas Holmes Electrical Service to provide customers with a variety of electrical contracting services. He was an innovative entrepreneur who developed his own advertising circulars, delivered by his children, throughout the Philadelphia area. He created his own electronic answering machine, just one of his many original invention ideas, to expand his business well before this equipment became mainstream. His wife Pat was his partner in the business, running the back-office operations. Later, encouraged by Tom, Pat started a new business in tax accounting. Tom was a partner with Pat in the tax business. When Tom retired from electrical work, he took over the back-office operations of the tax business. He brought along his innovative ways and was always on the lookout for efficiencies.
Tom and Pat spent many years square dancing at community spots in the Delaware Valley. Tom loved to travel with Pat visiting Yellowstone National Park, the Golden Gate Bridge, the Grand Canyon, Mackinaw Island, the Vatican, the hills of Ireland and Scotland, and the Tower of London, to name a few. Tom was fascinated by, and took great pleasure in, visiting historical places and museums.
Tom was an avid reader of non-fiction with a focus on science, engineering and biographical history. He loved animals, especially his grand dogs who loved him in return for his attention and his willingness to share food. Tom was also well known as someone who would lend his electrical skills to his family and friends where he could often be found installing electrical outlets, light fixtures, ceiling fans, 100 AMP service or any work that would allow him to be of service to others. Tom would tell you that his greatest accomplishment in life was his marriage of 63 years to Patricia McCullough. It was often remarked by the women in the family that many men would benefit by receiving “husband lessons” from Tom.
Tom and Pat were members of St. Cecilia’s Church. Tom’s faith was extremely important to him throughout his whole life.
Relatives and friends were invited to his viewing on Saturday, May 14, 2022 from 10:15 to 11:15 A.M. at Wetzel and Son Funeral Home, 419 Huntingdon Pike, Rockledge, PA 19046. His Funeral Mass began at 12:00 P.M. at St. Cecilia Church, 535 Rhawn Street, Philadelphia, PA 19111. His graveside service with military honors rendered by the United States Army followed at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery, 3301 West Cheltenham Avenue, Cheltenham, PA 19038.
Religious services were conducted by Fr. Robert F. Lucas from St. Cecilia Church, 535 Rhawn Street, Philadelphia, PA 19111.
Donations may be made in his memory to St. Joseph Villa, 110 West Wissahickon Avenue, Flourtown, PA 19031.
Family flowers arranged by Blake Florist 215-379-8787.
www.wetzelandson.com
Thomas is the beloved husband of the late Patricia Holmes; father of Thomas Holmes (Carol), Mary Elaine Holmes-Bricker (late Mark), Patricia Mathers (William), and Jennifer Granese (Vincent); grandfather to Brian and Peter Holmes and Laura Sanford (nee Holmes), Matthew, Moriah, Marina and Michael Bricker, Sarah Woods (nee Mathers), the late Shannon Mathers, Johnathan and Jessica Granese; great grandfather to Rui and Beatrix Holmes, Jacob Bricker, Reagan Woods and Henry Granese; dear brother of the late Rita Blindbury (nee Holmes), the late Elizabeth Schindler (nee Holmes), Dorothy Myers (nee Holmes) the late Myrtle Painter (nee Holmes), the late Steve Holmes and Bobby Ann Snow (nee Holmes).
Tom was born and raised in Riverside, New Jersey. He graduated from Saint Peter’s School in 1945 and Palmyra High School in 1949. Tom took electrical engineering courses from both Drexel and Spring Garden. He received an Associates Degree from Spring Garden Institute.
Tom is a veteran who served honorably in the U.S. Army in active duty from 1951 to 1953. He was stationed at Fort Bliss in Texas, where he received a Certificate of Proficiency in Artillery Radio Maintenance.
Tom married Pat in 1959 and they raised their family in the East Oak Lane area of the city where they were members of the Saint Joseph’s Catholic Church in Cheltenham.
Tom opened Thomas Holmes Electrical Service to provide customers with a variety of electrical contracting services. He was an innovative entrepreneur who developed his own advertising circulars, delivered by his children, throughout the Philadelphia area. He created his own electronic answering machine, just one of his many original invention ideas, to expand his business well before this equipment became mainstream. His wife Pat was his partner in the business, running the back-office operations. Later, encouraged by Tom, Pat started a new business in tax accounting. Tom was a partner with Pat in the tax business. When Tom retired from electrical work, he took over the back-office operations of the tax business. He brought along his innovative ways and was always on the lookout for efficiencies.
Tom and Pat spent many years square dancing at community spots in the Delaware Valley. Tom loved to travel with Pat visiting Yellowstone National Park, the Golden Gate Bridge, the Grand Canyon, Mackinaw Island, the Vatican, the hills of Ireland and Scotland, and the Tower of London, to name a few. Tom was fascinated by, and took great pleasure in, visiting historical places and museums.
Tom was an avid reader of non-fiction with a focus on science, engineering and biographical history. He loved animals, especially his grand dogs who loved him in return for his attention and his willingness to share food. Tom was also well known as someone who would lend his electrical skills to his family and friends where he could often be found installing electrical outlets, light fixtures, ceiling fans, 100 AMP service or any work that would allow him to be of service to others. Tom would tell you that his greatest accomplishment in life was his marriage of 63 years to Patricia McCullough. It was often remarked by the women in the family that many men would benefit by receiving “husband lessons” from Tom.
Tom and Pat were members of St. Cecilia’s Church. Tom’s faith was extremely important to him throughout his whole life.
Relatives and friends were invited to his viewing on Saturday, May 14, 2022 from 10:15 to 11:15 A.M. at Wetzel and Son Funeral Home, 419 Huntingdon Pike, Rockledge, PA 19046. His Funeral Mass began at 12:00 P.M. at St. Cecilia Church, 535 Rhawn Street, Philadelphia, PA 19111. His graveside service with military honors rendered by the United States Army followed at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery, 3301 West Cheltenham Avenue, Cheltenham, PA 19038.
Religious services were conducted by Fr. Robert F. Lucas from St. Cecilia Church, 535 Rhawn Street, Philadelphia, PA 19111.
Donations may be made in his memory to St. Joseph Villa, 110 West Wissahickon Avenue, Flourtown, PA 19031.
Family flowers arranged by Blake Florist 215-379-8787.
www.wetzelandson.com
Copyright Wetzel and Son, Inc. All Rights Reserved.