BILLY JEAN HOMES

BILLY JEAN HOLMES November 8, 1927 - April 21, 2016Billy Jean Holmes was a beloved Husband, Father, Brother, Grandfather, Great Grandfather, Pinochle Master, and dear Friend to many. Born November 8, 1927 in St Louis, Missouri, he spent his childhood there, then moved to Southern California to find a new future with his entire family while still in his teens. In Oceanside California he met the love of his life, Jimmie Bess Walton while attending Oceanside High school. Their mutual passion for family, dancing, music, and each other would warm the lives of all around them until her passing over 60 years later. In that span they created a family of three children and many Grandchildren and Great Grandchildren who each enjoyed the kind of love and support most can only dream of.As a young man, Billy went to work for the railroad and quickly found he had an amazing gift of logistics. At the request of a friend he applied for an opening with Rockwell Aerospace at the very beginning of a new idea called the Space program and quickly found himself leading the on the ground logistics management for the critical space capsules, boosters, and massive parts for the Apollo Space Program. These exciting years in the Los Angeles area would be followed by responsibility for moving all of the United States Space Shuttles, and the components of the B1 Bomber program. After over 25 award winning years leading these logistics programs, he retired to enjoy time with his wife and family, with a little card playing on the side. He retired to countless accolades from his teams, associates, astronauts, government leaders, and the entire NASA organization. He also found time to be a beloved High school and Junior High Youth Group leader at Hillside Baptist Church in La Mirada, CA. In later years Bill and his wife Jimmie returned to their hometown of Oceanside, rejoining their large and loving Walton and Holmes clans. Bill was a tireless and loving partner for Jimmie through her ongoing health challenges, and remained deeply in love with her for his entire life. He later joined his Son Robert and his wife Jane in Pennsylvania, discovering whole new groups of unsuspecting Pinochle players.Though having faced several large challenges in their life together, Bill considered his life the ultimate success story. He married his dream sweetheart, loved his family, felt he had the most exciting job on the planet at a time when it was critical for our country and the world, and enjoyed the many friends he made while he quietly fleeced them at the Pinochle table. Those who knew him are warmed by the gifts of his positive outlook on life, his unwavering sense of humor, his love of song and dance, his support and quiet strength, and the light he shared with everyone he met. In his final years, he was known to sing songs for each of his caretakers, just before handing them a piece of candy and a hug. That was Billy. Billy is survived by his son Robert Holmes married to Jane Jenson Holmes (Jane Smith) of Lancaster County, PA; his daughter, Barbara Jean Holmes of California, and sister Anne Keele Holmes of California. Also surviving are his grandchildren; Bob, Kelly, Raleigh, Carey and Ryan, and great grandchildren; Shea, Halle, Mara and Miles. He was preceded in death by his wife, Jimmie Bess Walton Holmes, his son William Lee Holmes and a brother Claude Holmes.A Memorial Service will be held on May 21, 2016 at 4:00 PM in Oceanside, California at Emerald Lake Village 3499 Amber Lane, Oceanside, CA 92056. In lieu of flowers, donations to The American Cancer Society, 314 Good Drive, Lancaster, PA 17603 or https://donate.cancer.org/index would be deeply appreciated by his family.Sheetz Funeral Home, Inc.Mount Joy, Pennsylvania

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BILLY JEAN HOMES

November 8, 1927