Chief Larry J. Holmes, ADC (AW), 73 years of age, passed on December 12, 2025, at the Flo and Phil Jones Hospice House in Jonesboro, AR.

Chief Holmes was born on August 30, 1952, in Jonesboro, AR, to the late James (Chester) and Etta (Elizabeth) Holmes of Harrisburg, AR. He came from a large family; he was the sixth of 13 siblings. Three of his siblings passed away before him: brothers Bobby and Johnny Holmes, and sister Janie (Sue) Little. Chief Holmes was raised in the Harrisburg Central Community.

Larry enlisted in the U.S. Navy two months before graduating from Harrisburg Central High School in May 1971. He went straight to Navy boot camp in Orlando, FL. While at boot camp, his draft number was called for Vietnam. He dedicated most of his life to serving in the Navy from 1971 to 1997. His duty stations included Corpus Christi, TX; Pensacola, FL; Puerto Rico; and Millington, TN. At Millington Naval Air Station, he earned a degree from the University of Western Tennessee and served as an instructor in air defense. He served aboard the aircraft carriers USS Saratoga in Jacksonville, FL, and USS Nimitz in Bremerton, WA. While on the Nimitz, the carrier was called to action in both Desert Shield and Desert Storm.

Chief Holmes retired from the Navy in Pensacola in 1997, where he then began his second career with Hixardt Technologies. Larry was a network engineer and serviced the computer systems for the Pensacola Chamber of Commerce and the Hilton Hotels in Pensacola and Pensacola Beach.

Severe PTSD forced Larry to fully retire and move back to Harrisburg in 2014. He enjoyed the beach, sports, a good golf game, was fun-loving and always quick with a joke.

Larry leaves behind two children, Taylor Holmes of Memphis, TN, and Carly Wisong of Raleigh, NC, as well as a son-in-law, Austin Wisong of Raleigh, NC. He also is survived by six brothers and three sisters: James Holmes of Trumann, AR; Mai Snow of Jonesboro, AR; Glen and Maxine Holmes of Harrisburg, AR; Tommy and Mary Holmes of Jonesboro, AR; Ricky Holmes of Harrisburg, AR; Kathy and Daniel Dickens of Trumann, AR; Sheila and Darrell Armstrong of Harrisburg, AR; Captain Mark and Paula Holmes of Jonesboro, AR; and Ronnie and Nancy Holmes of Piggott, AR. Additionally, he had numerous nieces and nephews and was very fond of his great nephew, Captain Lovell, and great niece, Staley Mills. 

A graveside service will be held at 10:00 AM on December 17, 2025, at the Arkansas State Veterans Cemetery in Cherry Valley.

Honorary Pallbearers: Gerald Benson, Terry Benson, Greg McQuire, Wesley Long, and James Hooker