Donna J. Holmes
Donna J. Holmes
Donna J. Holmes, 89, passed away Tuesday, July 2, 2024. Donna was a beloved daughter, sister, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and friend. Donna was a passionate golfer who found joy on the golf course and cherished every moment with her family and friends. She will be deeply missed and forever remembered in our hearts.
Donna was born in Jamestown, New York and grew up in the Falconer area. While attending Falconer High School, she starred on both the girls’ basketball and softball teams and worked at the Local Gold Star. After high school she met and married the love of her life, Paul J. Holmes, to whom she was married for 48 years prior to his death. Together, they raised four children. While raising their family, she and Paul owned and operated Frewsburg Lanes bowling alley, and were both inducted into the Jamestown Area Hall Bowling of Fame.
Donna’s true passion was in coaching youth athletics. For decades, Donna coached hundreds of youth bowlers, leading to several state championships, but more importantly instilling a love of the sport for so many area youth and constantly reminding them to “shake hands with the head pin”.
In 1996, she and Paul moved to The Villages in Florida, where she was an avid golfer, card player, and bowler. She also enjoyed softball, horseshoes, pickleball, throwing the javelin, and dancing at the town square.
Donna is survived by her son, Randy (Carolyn) Holmes of Crozier, VA, three daughters, Sondra (Jeffrey) Holsinger of Longs, SC; Rhonda Holmes of Frewsburg, NY; and Paula Sue Holmes of Jacksonville, FL, her grandchildren, Jason Holsinger, Brittney Baucke, Matthew DeLong, Sarah Smithee, Zachary Sopak, and Jacob Sopak, as well as great-grandchildren Carter and Jase Baucke, Julian Smithee, and Gianna DeLong. She is also survived by her brother, Clayton (Sandy) Waddington; sisters June Kent and Jill (Tom) Swanson; and sister-in-law Donna Waddington. She is preceded in death by her husband Paul; parents Frank and Mabel; brother Jack Waddington; and nephews Jeff Waddington and Todd Kent.
Friends will be received at the Peterson Funeral Home on Thursday, July 11 from 5-7 pm. A memorial service will be held on Friday, July 12 at Zion Lutheran Church in Frewsburg at 1 pm.
In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made in Donna’s name to one of the following charities: Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, or the American Cancer Society.