William E. Holmes, 79 of Church St., Rayland, OH died Thurs., June 2, 2005 at East Ohio Regional Hospital, Martins Ferry, OH. He was born May 12, 1926 in Martins Ferry, OH a son of the late Ross and Eloise (Helling) Holmes. He was retired from the Steubenville plant of Wheeling Pittsburgh Steel, a member of St. John's Lutheran Church, Ohio City Lodge No. 486 F. & A.M., American Legion Post #38 all of Martins Ferry, Scottish Rite Valley of Steubenville, Patrol Craft Sailors Association and a veteran of the U.S. Navy, WW II. In addition to his parents he was preceded in death by his stepmother Edna (Marquardt) Holmes, and two brothers George and Robert Holmes. Surviving are his wife of 50 years is Juanita (Landefeld) Holmes, a daughter Rebecca Holmes of Rayland and her fiancee Clinton Robson of Mt. Pleasant, a nephew Thomas Holmes of NJ, and two great nieces Lindsey and Jennifer Holmes. Friends will be received Sun., 12-3 & 6-8 PM at the Heslop Funeral Home, Walnut at Fifth, Martins Ferry, OH where services will be held Mon., Jun. 6, 2005 at 1:00PM with Ron Stullenbarger officiating. Burial follows in Riverview Cemetery, Martins Ferry, OH. Full military graveside services will be held by Belmont Co. Council of American Legion. Memorial contribution may be made to the Salvation Army or the Lipscomb University, 3901 Granny White Pike, Nashville, TN 37204-3951.