C. Thomas Holmes

Dateline: Alton Clifton Thomas Holmes of Alton died Friday, February 17, 2012 at 2:42 a.m. in Austin, TX after a long and courageous battle with pulmonary fibrosis. He was much loved and will be greatly missed by his three daughters and their families: Alicia Itria and husband Al of Austin, TX, Andrea Meyers of Alton and Sonja Morris and husband Neal of Wichita, KS and six grandchildren: Allison Sevelia and Emma Catherine Itria; Glenn William Meyers and Meredith Frances, Matthew Thomas and Mitchell Allen Morris. Tom married the love of his life, Sevelia Fine Allen September 25, 1954 in Oxford, England. She predeceased him November 8, 2009. Born October 15, 1932 in Alton to the late W.C. and Elsie Holmes he is survived by his brother and wife Jack and Patty Holmes of Fountain Valley, CA and Sevelia’s brothers William and Robert Allen of Alton. His sister and brother-in-law, Delores and Glen Werts predeceased him. After enlisting in the United States Air Force in 1952, Tom was stationed in Oxford, England until 1956. He and Sevelia then moved to California where he attended the University of California – Los Angeles. He graduated from UCLA December 1959 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Accounting and obtained his Certification in Public Accounting after moving back to Alton. Tom joined SM Wilson & Co. in 1963 and spent many enjoyable years as their Executive Vice President/Chief Financial Officer before retiring in 1998. In 1975 he was elected to the Alton Board of Education and served for 6 years. He was President of the Board for the last two years of his tenure. Tom also spent ten years serving on the Alton Memorial Health Systems Foundation Board of Directors in a variety of positions. Tom was a kind, generous and devoted father and husband who cherished the relationships he shared with his daughters, grandchildren, nieces and nephews and many friends. On Saturday, March 24th, 2012 Tom will be laid to rest in Valhalla Memorial Park at 1pm with full military honors by the VFW Post 1308. Friends are also invited to attend and participate in a Memorial Reception celebrating the lives of Tom and Sevelia at Lockhaven Country Club from 3:30-5:30. Gent Funeral Home in Alton is in charge of arrangements. PDF Printable Version

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C. Thomas Holmes

October 15, 1932 - February 17, 2012