Alvin Earl Holmes, 82, of Dalton, Ky. passed away at 9:45 a.m. Sunday January 10, 2010, at Regional Medical Center in Madisonville.

He was born March 13, 1927 in Hopkins County, Ky. to the late Benjamin Holmes and Rosa Della Evans Holmes. He was a U.S. Army Veteran serving in WWII, was a retired self employed carpenter and formerly worked in a strip mine. He also worked for the Hopkins County Road Dept. He was a member of Prospect Baptist Church in Dalton. He was a member of American Legion post #6.

In addition to his parents he was preceded in death by a son, Harold Holmes; three sisters, Gredith Neisz, Ethel Green and Anna Mary Holmes; eight brothers, Wesley Holmes, Kelley Holmes, Winford Holmes, Edgar Holmes, Roy Holmes, Malrey Holmes, Burt Holmes and Ernest Holmes.

He is survived by his wife, Mary Ruby Cunningham Holmes; nine sons, Larence Holmes of Calhoun, Ky., Bennie Holmes of Madisonville, Darrell Holmes of Dalton, Paul Holmes of Madisonville, Clinton Holmes of Rumsey, Ky., Nelson Holmes of Dawson Springs, KY., Wesley Holmes of Madisonville, Troy Holmes and Tracy Holmes both of Dawson Springs, Ky.; three daughters, Rosemary Starks of Rabbit Ridge, Ky., Mildred Cunningham of Nashville, TN. and Peggy Holmes of Dawson Springs, Ky.; sixteen grandchildren; twenty great grandchildren; several step grandchildren; several step great grandchildren; several nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. Wednesday January 13, 2010, in the chapel of Harris Funeral Home in Madisonville with Rev. Bill Gates officiating. Burial will be in Olive Branch Cemetery in Hanson, Ky. Military services will be conducted graveside by 101st Airborne Division Ft. Campbell and Hopkins County Honor Guard.

Friends may call from 5 until 7 p.m. Tuesday and from 10 a.m. until service time Wednesday at Harris Funeral Home.

Memorial contributions may be made to Olive Branch Church and Prospect Cemetery Fund. Envelopes will be available at the funeral home.