Funeral services will be at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, July 5, 2008 at Crestwood Memorial Chapel for Mr. Arvel R. "Coach" Holmes, age 87, who passed away on Tuesday, July 1, 2008. Burial will be at Crestwood Memorial Cemetery.
Coach Holmes touched the lives of countless students, athletes, family and friends. After serving in the United States Coast Guard during World War II, he returned to Etowah High School and received his high school diploma at the age of twenty-one. He went on to obtain a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Tennessee Chattanooga, a Master of Science degree from George Peabody College and a Master of Arts degree from Georgia Southern College. Coach spent the next thirty-four years teaching and coaching high school football in Alabama and Georgia. During his coaching career he amassed two hundred and eleven wins and had five undefeated seasons. He was five-time Coach of the Year and a three-time Coaches Association President. He coached championship teams in each of the high school divisions and had more than fifty players awarded college football scholarships during his career. Coach retired in 1983 from Rabun County High School and spent his remaining years working at Tiger Mountain Vineyards, relaxing and reflecting in Clayton, Georgia. Coach returned home to Glencoe in 2007 to share his final days with family and friends.
He was a member of Cedar Bend Masonic Logde # 583 F. & A.M. and the American Legion Post # 220 in Clayton, GA.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Cecil and Vicie Holmes, wife, Barbara Holmes, daughter, Roberta Osenton Moran, and a granddaughter, Lynn Osenton Pitzer. He is survived by his children, James Arvel Holmes (Virginia), of Panama City, FL., Joe Osenton (Maureen), of Montgomery, AL. and Denny Osenton (Janet), OF Portsmouth, VA.; brothers, Gus Holmes, of Southside and Robert Holmes (Roberta), of Glencoe; sister, Glenda Arther (John), of Glencoe; 9 grandchildren; 19 great grandchildren; 1 great great grandchild and many nieces and nephews.
Pallbearers will be Lee Snyder, D.F. Payne, Josh Holmes, Brandon Patterson, Guy Ross and Billy Braughton. Honorary pallbearers are all players, students and coaches.
Special thanks to the Nurse, Annette Rains, Alacare Hospice, Rabun County Senior Group, Shane Beck and Dr. John Ezzard and wife, Martha.
The family will receive friends from 9:00 a.m. until 11:00 a.m. on Saturday at Crestwood Memorial Funeral Home.