Obituary: William R. "Bill" Holmes Jr., Former Bernards Twp. Mayor

Obituary courtesy Gallaway and Crane Funeral Home

William R. "Bill" Holmes Jr. of Waukegan, Ill., a 37 year resident of the Basking Ridge section of Bernards Township, died peacefully at his home on Saturday February 1st, 2014. 

He was raised in Millburn, NJ and attended Millburn High School. He graduated from Farleigh Dickinson University in Madison, NJ in 1968. 

He began his career working for United States Steel in New York. After leaving US Steel, he enjoyed a successful career at The Okonite Company in Ramsey, NJ where he retired in 2013 after 35 years of dedicated service. 

He married his wife Barbara in 1963 and they lived in North Plainfield before moving to Basking Ridge in 1977. 

Bill will be remembered as a devote member of the community with a strong commitment to public service. He served on the governing bodies in both North Plainfield and Bernards Township.

In North Plainfield he served as Township Committeeman and Mayor. More recently, he served Bernards Township in both appointed and elected positions including: Planning Board, Township Committee, and three terms as Mayor. He was an untiring servant of the people whose leadership and dedication through the years has enriched the quality of life in the communities in which he lived. 

He was recently recognized with a citation from the US House of Representatives for 17 years of service on Congressman Rodney P. Frelingheysen's Academy Review Board, including his time spent as Chairman. 

He is survived by his loving wife of 50 years, Barbara Holmes of Basking Ridge, his son William R. Holmes III of Chesterfield, Va., Robert T. Holmes of Pottersville, NJ., and Jeffrey A. Holmes of Clinton Township, NJ. He is also survived and loved by his ten Grandchildren. He was predeceased by his daughter Cynthia A. Scalley of New Providence, NJ in 2007. 

Visitation will be held at Gallaway and Crane Funeral Home, 101 S. Finley Ave, Basking Ridge, NJ 07920 from 2:00 to 4:00 PM and 6:00 to 8:00 PM on Thursday, February 6th, 2014.

A Funeral Mass will be held on Friday February 7th, 2014 at St. James Church in Basking Ridge at 11:00 AM. For more information please call the Funeral Home at 908-766-0250 or to light an online condolence candle visit our websitewww.gcfuneralhome.com 

The family kindly requests that in lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in his memory to: Liberty Corner First Aid Squad, Inc, Post Office Box 57,Liberty Corner, NJ 07938, www.lcfas.org/content/donations/donations.asp