Dale Edward Holmes, 84, of Union City, passed away Tuesday, January 28, 2020 at Ascension Borgess Hospital in Kalamazoo.
A funeral will be held at 11:00 A.M. Saturday, February 1, 2020 at Lighthouse Funeral and Cremation in Union City, with Pastor Wilbur Wagenschutz officiating. Interment will follow Lyon Lake Cemetery in Fredonia Township.
Visitation will be held Friday, January 31, 2020 from 3:00 P.M. to 7:00 P.M. at Lighthouse in Union City.
Dale was born on December 11, 1935 in Albion, Michigan to Wm. Grant and Irene (Rocco) Holmes. He graduated from Albion High School in 1954 and married Patsy Sims in 1957. The couple moved to Marshall in 1960, where they raised their six children. Their union later ended in divorce.
Dale worked for Hayes Albion as a young man and later started his own business, known as Holmes Patterns. He operated the business for many years in Marshall.
In 2010, Dale, along with his companion, Brenda Wolf, moved to Union City. The couple purchased the Chatter Box Restaurant in downtown Union City in 2013 and renamed it “Mel’s Diner.” Dale has been operating the diner ever since.
He made many friends in his time at the diner. His love for collecting 1/18th scale model cars was apparent when you looked around his restaurant. He was a talented woodworker, making sleds, rocking horses, and many other items. He also was very skilled at drawing.
As a younger man, Dale enjoyed snowmobiling with his family and cruising on his Harley motorcycle. He will be remembered for his happy and friendly demeanor, his generosity, and his wonderful sense of humor.
In addition to his long-time companion, Brenda Wolf, Dale is survived by his children, Joanne (Daniel) Eaton of Marshall, Cynthia (Bruce) Herman of Marshall, Dale (Kelly) Holmes, Jr. of Marshall, Michael Holmes of Coldwater, Michelle Holmes of Marshall and Robert (Ruth) Holmes of Marshall; his sister Elaine Heath of Marshall; his former spouse Patsy Holmes of Marshall; 12 grandchildren; many great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews and cousins.
Dale was preceded in death by his parents, his brother Donald James Holmes; his sister Eloise Ford; his grandson Michael John Holmes; and his brothers-in-law, Raymond Heath and Tom Ford.
