Ken Holcomb

William Kenneth Holcomb, age 80, of Churchville, MD, passed away on June 4, 2020 at his home. Friends and family called him Kenny. He was a native of Joppa, Maryland. Kenny was born on August 17, 1939 to his parents Zach and Hazel Holcomb. He attended Bel Air High School and upon graduating he served his country for 35 ½ years and all but 3 years were in the United States Navy. His most memorable tours of duty were nine years in Hawaii with his family and two years as the Commanding Officer of Diego Garcia. He was a natural and excelled quickly, rising through the chain of command from E1 Enlisted Sailor to Commander William Kenneth Holcomb. After a 35 and ½ year Naval career, and to his dismay, he was forced to retire. Anyone who knew Kenny also knew he could never stop working. He retired on a farm in Joppa, Maryland. His farm was truly the love of his life. He adored his farm and the animals he cared for so much that his grandchildren referred to him as “Grandpa on the farm”.

Over the years, Kenny’s naval career afforded him the blessings of world travel and multiple friendships. He cherished his Navy career, his lasting friendships, and treasured his time spent on his farm. During his final days, he expressed his extreme gratitude for his family, friends, the USN, and his farm. While expressing some of his final words he said he wanted to go “top side”, a naval term for above deck. May he rest in peace in the most glorious, eternal “top side” ever which surely included a farm.

Kenny was married to Joyce Ruby Hughes (deceased) for twenty-eight years and they had four children together. He is survived by and was the proud father of Zachary Holcomb; Kelley Ruby Hazel Holcomb; William K. Holcomb Jr. (Kenny); Fanny Tyburski and father-in-law to Scott Tyburski and Katherine Holcomb. He was a grandfather to seven grandchildren, Nicholas Beattie (Nick), Shelbee Holcomb, Austin Holcomb (AJ), Jillian Tyburski, Benjamin Tyburski, Noelle Holcomb, and Aliza Holcomb; and brother to Shirley Preskitt, Louis Holcomb, Joyce Aquillar, and John Holcomb

In 2004, Kenny remarried and is survived by his loving wife of sixteen years, Mary Jo Holcomb. He also survived his spouse’s children, Jennifer Grant Melanoski, Jimmy Fields, Andrew Grant and Brianna Grant and was preceded in death by Jamie Grant.

In lieu of flowers, please make donations to Rally Against Parkinson’s, P.O. Box 221, Bel Air, MD 21014 or www.rallyagainstparkinsons.org.

The funeral service will be live on Friday, June 12 at 11:00AM. Please select the "Live Webcast" under the "Tribute Wall" to join the family.