Abingdon, Va. Earl Cecil Holmes, 78, passed away Saturday, March 22, 2014, at Johnston Memorial Hospital surrounded by family and friends. He was born in Washington County, Va., to the late Gale and Minnie Stallard Holmes. Cecil retired from Virginia Highlands Community College after 22 years of service and was also a well-known carpenter and farmer. Mr. Holmes was a veteran of the U.S. Army. In addition to his parents, he is preceded in death by his brother, Eugene "Gene" Holmes and wife, Eileen; sister, Geneva "Neve" and husband, Tommy Campbell; nephew, Steven Ray McCracken; niece, Kathy Holmes; and father-in-law and mother-in-law, Sam and Francis Widener Henry. He is survived by his loving wife and soul mate of 53 years, Peggy Henry Holmes; children, Edward "Ed" Holmes and wife, Beckie, Kathy Harless Hicks, and Connie Wise and husband, Donald, all of Abingdon, Va.; sister, Nellie Moretz and husband, Bob of Bristol, Va.; and brother, Gerald Holmes of Bristol, Tenn.; grandchildren, Freddie Harless Jr. and fiancee, Pam Wyatt, Cecil Lee Wise and fiancee, Breanna Slemp, Amanda Harless Ball and husband, Nathan, and David "D.J." Hicks; and great-grandchildren who were the light of his life in recent years, Nevaeh Harless, McKenzie Wise, Henry, Noah, and Diana Ball. He is also survived by brothers-in-law, Charles Henry and wife, Louise, Sammy Henry and wife, Patsy, and Rickie Henry and wife, Vickie; sisters-in-law, Mary Wolfe and husband, Eugene, Wanda Chandler, and Lenny Biggs and husband, Bill; numerous well-loved nieces and nephews; and his special Army buddies, Harold Evans and J.P. Hart. Funeral services will be conducted 8 p.m., Monday, March 24, 2014, at the Main Street Chapel of Farris Funeral Service with Pastor Bob McCormick officiating. Visitation with the family will be held 5 until 8 p.m. just prior to the service. A committal service will be held 11 a.m., Tuesday, March 25, 2014, at Forest Hills Memory Gardens with military rites conducted by Highlands Veterans Honor Guard and the Virginia National Guard. Those wishing to travel in procession to the cemetery are asked to meet at the funeral home by 10:30 a.m. Pallbearers will be Freddie Harless, Jr., Cecil Lee Wise, Amanda Harless Ball, David "D.J." Hicks, Mike Holmes, Tim Campbell, Brian McCracken, David McCracken, Donna Mitchell, Jerry, Brian, Randy, Kelly, Darrell, Glenn, Bobby, Coy, Chuck, Brenda, Janet, Sharon, Francis, Tammy, Becky, Vickie, Wendy, Angela, Melody, and Jaime Henegar. Honorary pallbearers will be Larry Wise, Glenn Wise, Earl Wise, J.D. Wise, Dave Hicks, Kevin, Michael, and Allen Collins, Kevin and Lisa Taylor, Craig Price; his VHCC coworkers, Joe P. Johnson, Jr., Jimmy Johnson, Fount Taylor, Hank Taylor, David Miller, Mike Bricker, Charles Henderson, Jerry Taylor, and all of his friends. Those wishing to express sympathy online may do so by visiting www.farrisfuneralservice.com and signing the online guest register. The Holmes family is being cared for by Farris Funeral Service and Crematory, 427 East Main Street, Abingdon, VA 24210, (276) 623-2700.