Francis Joseph Holcomb, 87, of Twin Lakes Village, Monticello died Monday, January 20, 2003 at Twin Lakes Village.
He was born September 10, 1915 at Reynolds, to Harry Joseph and Catherine Altman Holcomb. He was educated in the Reynolds school system and was a member of the basketball team. After graduation in 1933, he worked on a construction project building SR 18 west from Brookston.
In 1937, he married Helen I Safford at St Boniface Catholic Church in Lafayette. Soon after the marriage he leased a service station on the west edge of Reynolds from Albert Wiese. With the help of his wife and brother-in-law, Lloyd Safford he began a career of business ownership which lasted until his retirement in 1980. In the ensuing years, he moved his business to a service station at the intersection of highway 24 & 43. During this time he ran a school bus route and established an agriculture limestone business in the Frankfort, Indiana area.
In 1944 he sold his business and entered the U.S. Army taking his basic training at Camp Atterbury in Indiana and Camp Walters in Mineral Wells, Texas.
In 1939 a son was born to the Holcombs. His wife and son joined him in Texas during his training. He served with honor in Patton's 3rd Army in Germany and was discharged as a Staff Sergeant.
Upon his return to Reynolds, he entered the trucking business, which evolved, into an asphalt paving business, operating out of the former Reynolds Lumber and Coal Co. It was during this period he was elected to the Board of Directors of the Bank of Reynolds, a position he held for 30 years.
He maintained a life-long interest in golf, basketball, football and railroading. He was a member of the President's Council at Purdue and a 30-year member of John Purdue Club where he was a "Gold Coat". He was a lifelong member of St. Joseph Catholic Church in Reynolds and active in all lay areas of the Church.
His wife, Helen, died in 1977; a brother, John S. Holcomb died in 1936 and a sister Irene C. Holcomb died in 1960.
He married Rita Menk Ruemler on July 5, 1997 and they made their home in Brookston.
Survivors include a son, John L. Holcomb of San Antonio, Texas; a sister Mary Moore, Rochester, Indiana; two step-daughters, Mary (George) Foulks of Monticello, Marjorie (Greg) Asher of Fredericksburg, Va. and five step-sons; Larry (Laurie) Ruemler of Aliquippa, Pa., Dennis Ruemler of Goshen, Ind., Tom (Cindy) Ruemler of Ellettsville, md., Lynn (Debbie) Ruemler of Tulsa, OkIa., and Tim (Pam) Ruemler of Bonita Springs, Fla.; 14 stepchildren [sic] and 3 step-great grandchildren.
Visitation will be Wednesday at the Hartzler Funeral Home in Brookston with a Rosary service at 4 p.m. and calling from 4:30 to 8 p.m. Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. on Thursday at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Reynolds with Msgr. Robert Sell officiating.
Interment will be in Tippecanoe Memory Gardens Mausoleum in West Lafayette.
Memorials may be made to Alzheimer's Association or St. Joseph Catholic Church Building Fund.