Robert "Bob" E. Holmes

Robert E. Holmes, “Bob”, age 89, of Wilmington, passed away at home, surrounded by his loving family on April 18, 2023, following a courageous battle with cancer. 

Bob was born on December 7, 1933, in Boston, MA; he was the cherished son of the late Earl and Doris L. (Mann) Holmes.   

Bob married "the love of his life" Florence E. (Harris) Holmes, “Ponnie”, on December 5, 1953; they were married for over 62 years before Ponnie’s passing in 2016. Bob and Ponnie moved to Wilmington in 1965, where they raised their five children.  

Prior to retiring, Bob worked hard as a truck driver for Severance Trucking for many years. 

Bob’s family was most important to him; he enjoyed spending time with his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.  

Bob was the beloved husband of the late Florence “Ponnie” Holmes, devoted father of Robert E. Holmes, Jr. & his wife Wilma of Nashua, NH, Charles E. Holmes & his wife Victoria of Wilmington, Penny L. Holmes of Leominster, Cherryl M. Coppola of Wilmington, and the late Amy Beth Holmes. Loving “Grandpa” of Robert E. Holmes, III & his wife Laura, Tina Lisa & her husband Peter, Paul Holmes & his wife Melissa, James Holmes, Tanya Thrasher & her husband Daniel, C.J. Holmes, Katherine LaBombard & her husband Will, Jeannette Varga, John Coppola & his wife Laura, Joseph Coppola, Anthony Coppola & his wife Amy, and Amanda Holmes, Great-Grandfather of Kendra, Cassandra, Jenifer, Gracie, Robert IV, Matthew, Kayleigh, Lyndon, Ethan, Neil, Curie, Nathan, Olivia, Cora, Jocelyn, Julia, John, and Nicholas. Dear brother of Kenneth Holmes of TN and Stephen Holmes & his wife Susan of Harvard. Bob is also survived by many brothers and sisters-in-law, nieces, and nephews. 

Family and friends will gather for Visitation at the Nichols Funeral Home, Inc., 187 Middlesex Ave., (Rte. 62), Wilmington on Tuesday, April 25th from 10:30-11:30 a.m. followed by a Funeral Service at 11:30 a.m.  Interment to follow in Wildwood Cemetery, Wilmington.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Bob's memory may be made to the American Cancer Society, 30 Speen St., Framingham, MA 01701.