Obituary for Kenneth Holmes

Kenneth Edison Holmes, a longtime resident of Ponca City, passed away Sunday, May 24, 2015 in Houston, TX. He was 80 years old.

Kenneth was born on August 4, 1934 to Wallace and Bernice Holmes in Rockledge, GA. He grew up in rural Georgia and attended Mercer College on a basketball scholarship until a knee injury ended his playing career and cost him his scholarship. At that point, Kenneth saw the promise of the G.I. Bill as the best avenue to pursue his education, so in 1955 he joined the army and was stationed at Ft. Sill, Oklahoma. He excelled as a soldier and rose to become a nuclear weapons commander with the rank of captain. At Ft. Sill he met Laura Yvonne Jones who was working as a secretary for the army. On June 28, 1956 they married and remained blissfully in love for the next 59 years. Kenneth graduated from the University of Oklahoma College of Law in 1963 and began a career in the law that would continue the rest of his life. He served as assistant city attorney for Ponca City in 1963 and as municipal judge from 1964 to 1968. Kenneth served as mayor of Ponca City from 1974 to 1977, during which time he established the Marland Estate Commission. He was instrumental in Ponca City’s acquisition of the Marland Mansion.

But it was the private practice of law that was Kenneth’s true calling, and seeing those he helped benefit from his efforts was his greatest joy. His legal “war stories” rarely focused on his courtroom brilliance (though there was an abundance of that), but rather on the people he helped and contributions he made to their lives. He considered his clients to be his legacy. In his time away from the office, Kenneth enjoyed collecting cars, clocks and esoteric stereo equipment.

He is survived by his beloved wife Laura Yvonne Holmes, children Laura Hines (h. Dwayne) of Ponca City and Stephen Holmes (w. Julia) of Honolulu, and grandchildren Keith and Kyle Hines (w. Jennifer) of New York City and Kenneth, Kathryn, Kimberly, Krystine, Karter, Kayla, and Kassady Hines of Ponca City. A memorial service will be held at 3:30 pm, Monday, June 1, 2015 at the Grace Episcopal Church with Father Dee Wellington Bright officiating. Arrangements are under the direction of Trout Funeral Home & Crematory.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Grace Episcopal Church, 109 N. 13th St, Ponca City, OK 74601 or to the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center (note “Ohanian toxic metal research” with payment), c/o Mary E. Silverstein, Department Administrator, Department of Leukemia (Unit 428), 1515 Holcombe Boulevard, Houston, TX 77030.

Source: Trout Funeral Home