Laura Carolyn Holmes

Laura Carolyn (nee Smith) “Carol” Holmes, aged 95, of Camp Springs, Maryland, passed away on March 31, 2024, following a brief illness. She was the daughter of the late George William Smith and the late Caroline Eloise (nee Eyler) Smith, both of Trenton, New Jersey.

She was preceded in death by both parents, her husband Robert Thurston Holmes of Camp Springs, Maryland, and her daughter, Nancy Lynn Holmes Holcomb and son-in-law Curtis Holcomb, of Spokane, Washington; her sister Madge Anita Smith, her sister Dorothy Eileen (Smith) Goodwin and brother-in-law William W. Goodwin, her brothers Alfred Laverne Smith and sister-in-law Rita Ellen Smith, her brothers Wesley Penrod Smith, LeRoy Alvin Smith, all of Trenton, New Jersey, and her sister-in-law June Shirley Rich of Barnegat, New Jersey.

She is survived by two sons: Robert Craig Holmes (wife Deborah Jean Chadwick) of Woodstock, Georgia, and Scott William Holmes (wife Carol Marlene Westfaul) of Franklin, Tennessee; six grandchildren: Laura Kirsten Holmes Girguis (husband Samy) of Woodstock, Georgia; Robert Chadwick Holmes of Houston, Texas; Melissa Lynn Holmes Jones (husband Thomas Dale) of Fairview, Tennessee; Amy Elizabeth Holmes McDowell (husband Jonathan) of Huntsville, Alabama; Robert Jason Holcomb (wife Allison Janine Roberts) of Grenada, Mississippi; and Daniel Joseph Holcomb; and six great grandchildren: Andoly Emma Girguis and Amelia Sophia Girguis of Woodstock, Georgia; Marley Evelynn Jones and Lila Elise Jones of Fairview, Tennessee; and William Holmes McDowell and Caroline Elizabeth McDowell of Huntsville, Alabama, her brother Russell William Smith of Barnegat, New Jersey; and several nieces and nephews.

 Laura Carolyn was born November 9, 1928, in the home of her parents in Trenton, New Jersey. She attended kindergarten through grade 8 at the Slackwood Elementary School in Lawrence Township, New Jersey; grade 9 at Junior High No. 3 in Trenton, New Jersey; and grades 10 through 12 at Trenton Central High School in Trenton, New Jersey, where she graduated in 1946. After graduation, until she married in 1948, she worked at the Broad Street National Bank in Trenton. She met her husband-to-be Robert Thurston “Bob” Holmes when she was in the ninth grade at a minstrel show at her school. Bob, who was three years older, joined the Navy in 1943 and they began to date when he was home on leave. Bob Holmes finished flight training, received his naval flight wings and was commissioned as a naval officer in 1947. They married June 5, 1948, in Trenton. Laura Carolyn, who was affectionately called “L.C” by her husband, which was often heard by others as “Elsie”, became a Navy wife. For the next 19 years her husband flew naval aircraft on an erratic schedule and was on cruises for extended periods. He was often away from home while she ran the household and dealt with the needs of their three children. Her husband Bob retired from the Navy in 1967 and then worked at Andrews Federal Credit Union until he finally retired in 1988. Her husband Bob passed away March 8, 2016, just before their 69th wedding anniversary, and she lived an additional 8 years.

Laura Carolyn enjoyed reading, knitting, and visiting. She was always industrious and busy. She was determined, efficient, moved quickly, planned ahead, and was straight forward with people. Laura Carolyn Holmes will be interred at the Harpeth Hills Memory Gardens with her beloved husband, Robert Thurston Holmes in Nashville, Tennessee.

A memorial service will be held at Harpeth Hills Funeral Home in Nashville, Tennessee on Saturday, August 10, 2024, with visitation starting at 9:30am. The service will begin at 10:00am with the inurnment to follow.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to a charity of choice.