Clayton J. Holmes, 87, of Blacksburg, passed away at 10:07 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 1, 2024.
A viewing will be held on Monday, August 5, 2024, from 4:00 – 6:00 pm at McCoy Funeral Home in Blacksburg. Funeral services were held Tuesday, Aug. 6, 2024, at the Holmes Family Cemetery in Blacksburg. Memorial contributions may be made to the Blacksburg Rescue Squad or Charity of your choice.
Clayton was born Dec. 11, 1936, in Madison, Wisconsin to the late Clayton E and Alyce Hahn Holmes. He married Josephine Halstead on July 11, 1960, in Shady, West Virginia.
He is survived by his wife of 64 years along with six children, Velecia Roth of Fort Wayne, Indiana, Anna Aquino of San Francisco, California, Clayton (Chris) of Fluvanna County, Virginia, Leroy (Kim) of Blacksburg, Harry (Margaret) of Blacksburg, James (Rhonda) of Blacksburg; 14 grandchildren; and 20 great-grandchildren. In addition to his parents, Clayton is also preceded in death by a granddaughter.
Clayton was a veteran of the United States Navy. In his 21 years of service, he served on several ships, and he received the National Defense Medal, Navy Expeditionary Medal, and the Vietnam Service Medal. When he got out of the Navy, he worked for the Department of Corrections in Virginia then retired to Blacksburg to the family farm. Clayton was a man of the Lord and a family man. His love for his wife and family was second to none. If he knew you, you were not a stranger, and he’d give you the shirt off his back. His favorite thing to do was watch the news and read his Bible.