Longtime Anchorage resident, Mr. Winfred GǣSandyGǥ Lavern Holmes, 84, died peacefully at home while surrounded by his daughter, son in-law and their sons after a nine year battle with prostate cancer on Monday, December 19, 2016 at his home in Anchorage.
Military honors will be performed and Sandy and his wife Beth will be laid to rest at the Fort Bayard National Cemetery at a future date to be announced.
Sandy was born March 7, 1932 to James Lesley & Stacy Georgia (Wiley) Holmes in Gladewater, TX. He graduated from Las Cruces High School in Las Cruces, NM. Sandy entered the U.S. Air Force in 1950 and performed his basic training at Sheppard Air Force Base in Wichita Falls, TX. He served as an Airman First Class during the Korean War until being honorably discharged in 1954.
Sandy had worked in numerous jobs to include the Mesilla Park Ice in Mesilla, Park, NM; 1959 as an electrical lineman GǣWoodwalkerGǥ for Silver City Power and Electric in Silver City, NM; 1962-1964, Millwright apprentice, Southwest Forest Industry Pulp Mill in Snowflake, AZ; 1964-1965, Millwright for Ponderosa Paper Company in Flagstaff, AZ; 1965-1967, Millwright for Georgia Pacific Corporation in Samoa, CA (residing in Arcata, CA); 1967-1970, Maintenance Supervisor for Publisher's Paper Company in Newberg, OR; 1970-1972, Maintenance Superintendent for Georgia Pacific Corporation in Samoa, CA and Humboldt, CA; 1972-1974, Maintenance Manager for Publishers Paper Company, Sawmill Division in Molalla, OR; 1974-1976, Project Manager for West Coast Orient Lumber Mills in Tacoma, WA (residing in Spanaway); 1976-1977, Project Manager for San Juan Lumber Co. in Pagosa Springs, CO; 1977-1979, Project Consultant for the Honduran Government in Yoro, Honduras; 1979 - 1981, Project Consultant for the Peruvian Government in Pucallpa, Peru; 1981-1987, Assistant Project Manager for Harrison International in Bay Pines, FL, Vernon, TX, Clovis, NM, Texarkana, TX, Lexington, SC and Tuscaloosa, AL; 1987-1989, Construction Manager for Columbia Engineering Corp. in El Paso, TX (Served as project engineer for construction of a power station of the remote GǣPrince WalesGǥ Island in South West, Alaska; 1989-1996, Project Superintendent for Cimetta Engineering and Construction Co. of Tucson, AZ.
Sandy was a member of the St. Patrick's Catholic Church in Anchorage, AK. He enjoyed woodworking, hunting, fishing and camping.
The family wrote, GǣSandy was a man of faith and extremely proud and devoted to his family. He enjoyed the great outdoors and the adventures of travel. He will be missed.Gǥ
Sandy was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Lyda Beth (Donohue) Holmes; and his brother, Wayne Conrad Holmes.
He is survived by his daughter and son-in law, Colleen (Holmes) & Jay Bickford; grandson, Riley and Ryan Bickford; son and daughter in-law, Bradley W. & Carolyn J. Holmes; granddaughter and grandson in-law, Jessica J. (Holmes) and Sam Cummings; and granddaughter, Camillia McRae.
The family would like to thank G