Charles "Chuck" Holcomb, Jr.

Charles “Chuck” Holcomb, Jr., 95, of Helena died peacefully under Hospice care at the Bethesda Care Center, Fremont on Saturday, July 20, 2019.

Born in Sandusky, OH on Oct. 14, 1923, Chuck was a son of the late Charles Holcomb, Sr. and Emma (Wertz) Holcomb.  As a 1942 Gibsonburg High School graduate, he furthered his education by attending Davis Business College.  That same year, he enlisted in the Army Air Corp during WWII, and was stationed in England.  His position in the Corp was a belly and tail gunner in a B24.  His plane was shot down over Europe and he became a Prisoner Of War, under the German Army.  He was subjected to and was an involuntary participant in the German’s “Black March” near the end of the war.  He was a POW for over 11 ½ months, until the war’s end.  He received campaign medals and the Purple Heart for his service to the country.

Chuck had a full life and will be remembered for being witty and light-hearted.  He enjoyed fishing with his family and golfing, being a member and league golfer at the former Bettsville Golf Course.  He and his wife, Carol, were regular patrons of Chud’s Restaurant in Fremont.  He spent time handmaking his model train display and collecting coins.  Chuck was a life member of the Helena Community Volunteer Fire Dept., the Gibsonburg American Legion, the NRA, the Sandusky County Sportsman’s Club and St. Michael Catholic Church in Gibsonburg.

As a career, he worked as a maintenance supervisor for the Peter Ekrich Company in Fremont.  He retired in 1985. 

On Dec. 28, 1945, he married Carol Kirwen in the Parsonage of St. Michael Church.  They would have been celebrating their 74^th wedding anniversary this winter as Carol survives in Helena.

Also surviving are children Kenneth (Patricia) of Sunnyvale, CA, Kathy Holcomb of Fremont, Jeffery (Cindy) of Gibsonburg and Jill Swanson of Brownsville, TX; 9 grandchildren; and 10 great-grandchildren. 

Chuck is preceded in death by his parents; and sisters Margaret Myers and Jean King.

Visitation will be Tuesday, July 23, 2019, 4-7 p.m., at the Herman-Veh Funeral Home & Cremation Services, Gibsonburg.  A Funeral Mass will be said on Wednesday, July 24, 10 a.m., at St. Michael Catholic Church, Gibsonburg.  Fr. Scott Woods will officiate

Burial with Military Rites be at St. Michael/St. Lawrence Cemetery, Gibsonburg.

Memorials may be made to St. Michael Catholic Church. 

https://www.thenews-messenger.com/story/news/local/2015/11/11/holcomb-remembers-camp-black-march/75095826/