A Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, September 7, 2024 at 11:00 A.M. at Striffler Hamby Mortuary, Edgewood Hall, 4071 Macon Rd, Columbus, Georgia 31907. A Visitation will be held from 10:00 A.M. until 11:00 A.M. Immediately following the memorial service, a brief committal service will be held at Chapel of the Pines Mausoleum at Parkhill Cemetery, 4161 Macon Rd, Columbus, Georgia 31907.
Richard was born on June 13, 1949 to the late Tom and Fredrica Holmes. His early years were spent in Boston, Connecticut, and Maine with his later years spent at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, and other locations while his dad was serving in the Marines. Richard graduated from Camp Lejeune High School as the Class of 1967. He loved to spend summers in Connecticut, working with his grandfather’s construction company. He attended Appalachian State University in Boone, North Carolina, on a football scholarship and there he also became a member of the PI KAPPA PHI Fraternity. After his freshman year at ASU, he attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and completed his degree at University of North Carolina Wilmington. It was there that he decided to become a Physician Assistant. He graduated from the Physician Assistant program at the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston, South Carolina.
His first job as a P.A. was in Columbus with the Consolidated Government. He was then offered a job with the state at Rutledge State Prison as their P.A. Next, he spent a short amount of time at a small practice in Ellaville, Georgia, where there was a great need for medical care in the small community. After a couple of years, he was offered to work at Columbus Clinic, where he enjoyed working for many years. Dr. Sebastian Hubbuch needed a great P.A. and Richard worked at Chattahoochee Valley Cardiology for nearly 20 years.
A few years after moving to Columbus, he was introduced by friends, Ramon and Susan, on Memorial Day weekend 1984, to the love of his life, Maria Haines. They married a year later on June 1, 1985. They enjoyed traveling to New England, Nova Scotia, and many other beautiful places around the country. Charleston and 30A in Florida, were two of their favorite places nearby. Their life together was blessed with wonderful family and friends and many happy memories.
Richard enjoyed many sports, but mostly tennis and golf. His dream trip to play in Scotland came true many years ago. He planned the whole trip and was lucky enough to get his golf buddies Jerry, Randy, and Mike to go along with him. He also hiked a large portion of the Appalachian Trail and loved to go biking and exercising.
Richard is preceded in death by his parents, Tom and Fredrica Holmes; sister, Beth Staples; nephews, Chris Gray and Michael Haines; and his father-in-law, George William Haines, Jr.
Left to cherish his memory is his loving wife, Maria; mother-in-law, Gwen Haines; brother-in-law, Ralph Staples; brothers and sisters-in-law, Gary and Theresa Haines, Todd and Barbara Haines, Scott and Donna Haines, and Jeff and Beth Haines. He is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews, and all of Maria’s extended family. He was loved very much by his friends and his work family at Chattahoochee Valley Cardiology.
Maria is extremely grateful for the care and compassion shown by everyone at Columbus Hospice, the care given to him by Andrew Pippas, the nurses at John B. Amos Cancer Center, and for the support of Dr. Sebastian Hubbuch and Dr. Scott Womble throughout the years.
Flowers will be accepted, but donations may be made to the John B. Amos Cancer Center, Columbus Hospice, or Wynnton Methodist Church in Richard's honor.
