Henry Elbert “Hank” Holcomb, Jr., 86, of Murphy, NC, died Tuesday, November 18, 2008.
A native of Nicholson, Mississippi, he was the son of the late Henry E. and Sarah Evelyn Patch Holcomb.
He served with honor in the U.S. Army Air Corps in B-17 and
B-29 Bomber Units during World War II.
He was a long-time employee of Brunswick Pulp & Paper Co., Brunswick, GA, and a member of the Ocean Lodge #214 F&AM and the Glynn County Rescue Squad, Underwater Recovery Unit. He was a charter member of the Golden Isles Scuba Diving Club.
He retired from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, in 1989, and moved to Murphy, NC.
He was a formally trained, licensed layreader of the Episcopal Diocese of Mississippi and was active in the congregations in St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, Picayune, MS., the Episcopal Church of the Messiah, Murphy, NC, and Grace Mountainside Lutheran & Episcopal Church, Robbinsville, NC.
He was known as an avid hunter, fisherman, and enjoyed woodworking; activities he was engaged with until his death.
He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Amelia B. “IdaMae” Holcomb, of Murphy, NC;
a son, The Rev. Steve Holcomb and wife Linda of Murphy, NC;
a daughter, Rhonda Eunice and husband Richard of Kotzebue, Alaska;
a sister, Louise Hancock of Picayune, MS;
a brother, Doug Holcomb of Nicholson, MS;
three grandchildren, Samantha, Julie and John;
and two great-grandchildren, Brittany and Alex.
His Memorial Service was held 1:30 PM, Sunday, November 23, at Grace Mountainside Lutheran & Episcopal Church, Robbinsville, NC, 28771 with the Rev. Walter Edwards officiating.
In lieu of flowers, donations were made to the “Good Samaritan Fund” at Grace Mountainside Church, P.O. 1208, Robbinsville, NC 28771.
Cochran Funeral Home, Murphy, NC, was in charge of arrangements.
This obituary appeared in The Brunswick News, The Picayune Item, The Cherokee Scout,
the Alaska Sounder, the Andrews Journal, the Graham Star and the Asheville Citizen-Times.
