Stanley Taylor Holmes Jr., 97, died peacefully May 21, 2022, from a recent medical condition with his family members by his bedside at Lehigh Valley Hospital, Cedar Crest. He was the husband of the late Gwendolyn M. (Matthews) Holmes for 71 years until her death in 2020. Born in Philadelphia, he was the son of the late Ann K. (Bossert) and Stanley T. Holmes Sr. He grew up in Philadelphia and Trenton, N.J.

He graduated from Pennington School in New Jersey and from Lehigh University, earning a Bachelor of Science degree in business administration.

He served in the U.S. Navy in the Pacific during World War II.

He had fond memories of spending summers with his family in Ocean City, N.J. where he met the love of his life in 1947.

He achieved distinction during his career in life insurance and financial investments. He was president of the Lehigh Valley Chapter of Chartered Life Underwriters and a lifetime member of the Million Dollar Round Table.

He twice chaired the Lehigh County Red Cross blood program and for several years was chairman of the Allentown Red Cross. He supported the Special Olympics and the Allentown Rescue Mission, and took his turn ringing a bell for the Salvation Army at Christmas.

He and his wife were actively engaged as sacristans at the Emmaus Moravian Church.

Among his favorite community service relationships were those forged through the Kiwanis Club. He could coach a Little League team, plan a pancake breakfast and handle leadership responsibilities that included Kiwanis chapter president and regional lieutenant governor. The Emmaus chapter recently honored him for 61 years of full attendance.

As a Lehigh graduate and proud member of the Chi Psi fraternity, he was Class of 1948 correspondent for 40 years and received an alumnus award from the university. He was an avid fan of Lehigh wrestling and football. He loved baseball and had encyclopedic knowledge of the game. He never gave up on the Phillies and, in recent years, rooted for the IronPigs.

He enjoyed camping trips with his family. A regular at the Allentown YMCA, he swam for distance, not speed and could crack jokes with the best.

He is survived by children: Stanley III (wife, Becky; daughter, Dulce); Sally Holmes Shirley (husband, Mike; daughter, Samantha, son Clark (wife, Melissa); Jeanette Flumenero (husband, Tony); stepchildren, Shannon, Alasia, Adrienne, Emily; Wesley (wife, Judy; stepchildren, Blake, Travis (dec’d); friend and cousin, Frank J. Holcombe III (wife, Billie; son, Stuart and daughter, Kimberly).

Contributions may be made to the Stanley T. Holmes Scholarship Fund at Emmaus High School c/o Emmaus Kiwanis Club, to Lehigh University’s Office of Development and Alumni Relations or to the charity of your choice.

A viewing will be held 7 to 9 p.m. May 27 at the Schantz Funeral Home, P.C., Emmaus, with a memorial service to follow 1 p.m. May 28 at the Emmaus Moravian Church.