Willie Joe Holmes, 97

Willie Joe Holmes was born February 26, 1928 in Vernon, TX. In 1930 his family moved to Idabel, OK, where he attended school and graduated in 1946. October 5, 1946 WJ joined the army and served on the southern island of Japan, Kyishu. He was honorably discharged March

11, 1948.

Willie Joe enrolled in college on September 1, 1948 at Oklahoma A&M. On August 14, 1949 he married Ina Faye Mc-Cown. He graduated July 29, 1951.

WJ was employed by the Ainsworth NE school system as the “on farm instructor” on August 1, 1951. After serving 20 months as the instructor, he was hired as the vocational agricultural instructor. He taught for four years and was then hired by the USDA as a trainee for the position of Soil Conservationist.

It was during these years that his children were born in Ainsworth. Joe Allen was born November of 1951, Cathie Anne, August of 1953, Robert Eugene, May of 1955 and Sherri Kay, December 1956.

In 1963, after the three years of training for the SCS position and four years as a field office conservationist, WJ was transferred to the Valentine field office as the District Conservationist and field office trainer. He was successful in this position as he had more acres under contract for applying conservation practices on the land than any other field office in the state. WJ retired on December 3, 1994.

Willie Joe and Ina Faye enjoyed living in the home they built in Valentine in 1963, raised their family, and enjoyed the community where they made life-long friends. After retiring he and his wife, Ina Faye, traveled. They spent a summer in Alaska, joined a church group for a trip to Poland, went to the Holy Land and saw many biblical places. They then went to Egypt and enjoyed many sites. Willie Joe passed away in York, NE on September 7, 2025 at the age of 97 years. He is survived by his son Joe Allen of Grand Island, daughter Cathie and husband Wayne Belville of Valentine, Robert (Bob) and wife Karin of Omaha, and daughter Sherri and husband John Bennett of York. Nine grandchildren and 10 great grandchildren, and his brother Archie Holmes and wife Maggie.

Willie Joe was preceded in death by his wife Ina Faye; parents John and Viola Holmes; brothers Roy Ray and Glenn Dale; and infant siblings brother Travis Virgil and sister Dorthy Jean; sister-in-law Thelma Joyce Estes and parentsin- law T.A.(Sport) and Irene Mc-Cown.

Services were held at the Valentine Presbyterian Church, Thursday, September 11, 2025. Burial with military honors followed at Mount Hope Cemetery in Valentine.

Holmes Funeral Home was entrusted with the arrangements. Online guest book available at www.HolmesFH.com.