Joe D. Holmes, 67, of Freeport, Ill., died March 23, 1997, at Freeport Memorial Hospital.
  Born May 2, 1929, in Delphi, he was the son of Russell G. and Hilda B. Harrison Holmes.  He was a 1947 graduate of Delphi High School.
  His marriage was on June 2, 1956, in Morocco, to Mary E. "Betty" Deardurff, who survives.
  He served four years in the Navy aboard the USS Coral Sea, and was a member of the U.S. Coral Sea CVA-43 Association, Freeport VFW and Delphi American Legion.
  In 1952 he began working for General Telephone Co. in Lafayette.  He moved to Freeport in 1965, where he was employed by Northwestern Telephone Co., later Contel; until his retirement in 1989.  He served in various executive positions in each of the telephone companies.
  He had formerly been an active member of Freeport Area Chamber of Commerce, and was a charter member of the Ambassadors.
  Other memberships included Elks Lodge 617, First United Methodist Church of Freeport, and formerly, Rotary Club.
  Also surviving are one daughter, Lisa Ann Watkins of McFarland, Wisc., and two grandchildren.  Two brothers preceded him in death.
  Services were March 27 in Illinois.
 
Obituary notice taken from the Carroll County Comet, Wednesday, April 9, 1997