Gary S. Holcomb

Gary Scott Holcomb, Sr. January 13, 1948 – September 21, 2018

Gary moved on from this world Friday morning September 21, succumbing to complications arising from pancreatic cancer. He went peacefully and without pain surrounded by those he loved most dearly.

Gary was born in Michigan on Jan 13, 1948 to Albert W. and Robert C. Holcomb. He was the older of two children, preceding his sister, Andrea, by almost 17 months. He lived in Michigan into his early twenties where he married his first wife and started a family having two sons Scott and Chad. After many years in Michigan, he decided to move to California ending up in San Diego where he spent the majority of his adult life.

While in San Diego, he met the love of his life and felt extraordinarily fortunate to marry Jeannette Johnston on May 27, 1989. They were soul mates and an incredible team through both the good and difficult times. In the past few years the couple truly enjoyed traveling to the world around them, visiting with friends and planning future adventures together. Next year they were to celebrate their 30th wedding anniversary.

Professionally, Gary took on many challenges including stints as a lawyer, small business owner, and business coach. While each role was rewarding in its own way, it was his role as a coach that was perhaps most fulfilling. He took great pleasure in providing support to others in their journeys and maintained this enthusiasm in his social circles as well. His family has enjoyed immensely hearing the memories of Gary helping others in some small way to overcome some of their own hurdles in life.

Gary was a gregarious and affable soul who had the ability to make friends with all that he met. Those who have been out to a meal with him can recall his light-hearted and often off beat conversations with restaurant staff members that tended to add levity to any occasion. He truly valued his friendships and maintained lifelong relationships with many of those in his social groups including his high school ‘The Big 10 Fellowship’, his IBL fantasy league pals, his San Diego community and those he met through his various adventures. He had a wonderful sense of humor and a caring soul that made him an easy person to talk to and sounding board for many.

A lifelong Lions fan, he loved telling people he attended the last playoff game the Lions were in with his father in 1958.

He most loved spending time with family and friends, playing games of strategy, immersing himself in history, collecting artifacts, and spending leisure time in Las Vegas.

Gary is survived by his loving wife Jeannette, sons Scott (Melissa) and Chad, his sister Andrea, his adoring grandchildren Alex and Peyton, nieces Ashley and Rachel, sister-in-law Jennifer, brother-in-law Scott, nephews Jeffrey, Jeremy and Dan, great nephew Devon and great niece Riley.

We will forever remember, love and miss him and are grateful for having had him in our lives.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Gary S. Holcomb, please visit our floral store.