Eugene C. Holmes

Eugene Clayton Holmes, 93, of Oxnard passed away July 23, 2018 following a brief illness. He was a 55 year resident of Ventura County. Gene was born in Albert Lea, Minnesota to Thaddeus and Annie Holmes on March 29, 1925. Gene had arrived in California with his family when he was sixteen months old. He was raised in Canoga Park and graduated from Canoga Park High School. Gene entered service with the U.S. Army Air Corps on March 29, 1943 on his eighteenth birthday. He completed basic training at Camp Roberts, California. After basic, he was assigned to the 69th Fighter Squadron of the 58th Fighter Group. November 1, 1943, shipped out from San Francisco arriving in Brisbane, Australia November 20th . On December 8, 1943, sailed for New Guinea and served there by maintaining the guns and loading armament on the squadron's P-47 Thunderbolts. September 9, 1944, the 69th Fighter Squadron transferred to the Philippine Islands. July 8th , 1945, the squadron was reassigned to serve in Okinawa. After the surrender of the Japanese in September, 1945, Gene was honorably discharged at the rank of corporal from the U.S. Army Air Corps on December 23, 1945.

Shortly after arriving home from World War II, Gene became reacquainted with a young woman named Patricia Paige, they eventually married in August, 1949 and settled in Canoga Park. They raised two children, Dennis and Annette. During this time, they had moved to Simi Valley and then finally decided to reside in Oxnard, California. During this period, Gene had worked for Rocketdyne (North American Aviation) as a Mechanical Engineer and later Getty Oil Company which was purchased by Texaco as an Engineering Technician. Gene retired in 1987. Gene enjoyed traveling with his family, woodworking projects, including building their first house, performing volunteer service through church or other public service activities and exercising to keep active and fit. Gene and Pat enjoyed a 65 year marriage until she preceded him in death in 2015.

Gene is survived by son, Dennis Holmes and his wife, Beth in Las Vegas, Nevada; daughter, Annette McComas and her husband Scott in Oxnard, California; grandchildren, Reverend Jonathan Holmes and his wife Amy, Desiree Cornwell and her husband Lane, Clayton McComas, Kira McComas and great-grandson Otto Holmes.