Robert Ryan (Bob) Holmes, 70, died Sunday, June 15, 2008 at Inova Fairfax Hospital in Virginia. A memorial service will be held on Thursday, June 19, at 7:30 pm, at Christ Our Saviour Lutheran Church located at 46611 Jefferson Drive, Sterling, VA with Jack Grubb officiating.

Robert was born June 20, 1937 to Marion F. Holmes and Alice (Ryan) Holmes. He grew up in Phoenix, Arizona and attended Kenilworth grade school and West Phoenix High School where he excelled in football and other sports.

He graduated in 1955 and attended the University of Arizona, where he was a member of the SAE Fraternity. He served in the U.S. Marine Corps and later attended the University of Northern Colorado and Arapahoe Community College. He and his wife, Robbyn, were married in 1959. He began his career, which spanned four decades, as a rookie patrol officer for the Phoenix Police Department in Arizona in 1958. He later moved to Littleton, Colorado and within three years had attained the rank of Lieutenant. He served his country for three years in Vietnam as an international police adviser under the Agency for International Development. He returned to police work in Colorado in 1972, and became Chief of the Englewood Police Department in 1975, where he served in that capacity until his initial retirement in 1989. That same year he accepted the position of Rutland City's Chief of Police in Vermont, retiring in 1998. He was the recipient of numerous awards, including the FBI Agency's Community Leadership Award, and is a Life Member of the International Association of Chiefs of Police. Following his retirement from the Rutland Police Department, he and his wife moved to Potomac Falls,Virginia.

Robert is survived by his wife, Robbyn, their daughter, CaraLea Smith and husband Steve, their son, Lincoln Holmes, grandsons Jason VonLembke and Sean VonLembke and granddaughters Venessa Smith Woolley and Lexi Smith and a brother, Gene Holmes of Arizona. He is also survived by his sister-in-law, Meridith Jones and brothers-in law David Jones and Bob Clendenen, his dear friend, Tony West, and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins. He was a great man, who spent his life in service to God, his family, his friends and neighbors, his community and his country.

Robert Holmes suffered from Polycystic Kidney Disease, a hereditary disease that debilitates the kidneys. Memorials may be made in honor of Robert Holmes to the Polycystic Kidney Disease Foundation at www.pkdcure.com. or mail to PKD Foundation, 9221 Ward Parkway, Suite 400, Kansas City, MO, 64114-3367.