Harlan Richard Holmes, Jr, 84, passed away Friday, June 9, 2017 at Summit View of Farragut with Hospice care after fighting a battle with cancer. Born April 2, 1933 in Dalton, GA to the late Harlan Richard Holmes, Sr. and Hattie Mae Patton Holmes,  Richard grew up in Ridgedale of Chattanooga and graduated from Chattanooga High School in 1951. Richard was a Sgt. First Class in the Army Reserve and tank commander during the Korean War Era and retired from Norfolk-Southern RR in 1996 after serving 37 years. He was a past master of Ridgedale Masonic Lodge 660 and a member for over 50 years. Richard worked with the Boy Scouts over 37 years with heading up local council tours to Philmont Scout Ranch, NM in 70s and 80s, as well as a Cub Scout leader and camp director. He was a past BSA Commissioner and Chairman in the Eastern district. He was a leader in the Royal Ambassadors of East Ridge and Central Baptist Churches. He was a VIGIL Honor member of The Order of Arrow. He was a past Patron of Mission Ridge Order of the Eastern Star. As a member of the Hiram Council he was the past High Priest. He was an amateur radio operator, call sign W4FGI, and served with the U.S. Army MARS Program as a HAM operator. In November 1955, Richard married Edna Virginia Loretta Green and had 2 children.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Harlan Richard Holmes, Sr and Hattie Mae Patton Holmes, and his wife, Edna Virginia Loretta Green Holmes.

He is survived by his children, Cheryl Lynn Holmes Rudd and Harlan Richard Holmes, III (H.R.); grandchildren, Adam Rudd, Jennifer Rudd Tidwell, and Morgan Holmes; a step granddaughter April Jeffery Cantrell and her 2 children; sister, Shirley Holmes Leonard; nephew, Stephen Leonard. For the last 20 years, Richard was associated with Christine “Cricket” Thompson and family of Dalton, GA.

Funeral services will be held 11:00a.m. Tuesday, June 13, 2017 in the South Crest Chapel.  Entombment will follow in Lakewood Memory Gardens, East.

The family will receive friends 4:00p.m. – 8:00p.m. Monday at the South Crest Chapel of Lane Funeral Home & Crematory, at the end of historic Missionary Ridge, Rossville.

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