Herbert A. Holcomb, of Farmington, retired Detroit Fire Dept. Captain and proud WWII Navy Veteran, passed into eternal life on Wednesday evening, September 28, 2022, at St. Mary Mercy Hospital, Livonia. He was 96.

Herb was born February 7, 1926, in Detroit, to the late William and Catherine (Gillies) Holcomb. He married his beloved wife of 58 years, Bettyann, on the evening of his high school graduation from Redford High School, August 19, 1943, at the First United Methodist Church of Farmington. Sadly, Bettyann preceded him in death on October 18, 2001.

Herb was drafted into WWII in May 1944 when he was 18 years old and joined the Navy.  After two years at sea, the war was over, he returned home to Detroit to start a new life as husband and father.  Herb initially began working at Ford Motor Co.  After two weeks of working, and finding himself out of work because they were on strike, he started working for Michigan Consolidated Gas Co. reading meters.  He moved on from that job to his lifetime employment in the Detroit Fire Dept. on December 30, 1946.  He started out as a fireman, moved on to a truck driver (engineer), and years later was promoted to Training Captain.  During his entire firehouse career, he also owned and operated a private cement and construction business on the side.  Following his 37-year career with the Department, he retired in 1979.  Following retirement, he and Betty moved to Lowell, near Grand Rapids.  Living in a small town was great for their shared hobby of antique buying, repairing, and selling.  They moved back to Farmington Hills in 1997 due to Betty's health issues.

Herb was an avid hunter, and his hunting trips took him to South Africa, Newfoundland, Canada, and several states in the US.  He has over 25 animal heads mounted in his home as a tribute to his hunting passion.  He also enjoyed repairing clocks, garage sales, watching old movies, and all types of card playing, especially pinochle.  He was also an active member of the Masonic Zion Lodge No.1 in Downtown Detroit and its Aries Grotto Social Club as well as the VFW.  M oreover, he was very active in charitable endeavors, most especially ramp building for those with disabilities all over metro-Detroit from Monroe to Port Huron.

Surviving are four children, Robert (Mary) Holcomb, William (Diane) Holcomb, Herbert (Joann) Holcomb, and Madeline (Earle) Mott; his brother, Duane (the late Mary Jane) Holcomb; five grandchildren, and six great-grandchildren. In addition to his wife, Herb was preceded in death by four siblings, Gordon, Merton, William and Vivian Holcomb.

The Holcomb family will receive guests at Heeney-Sundquist on Thursday, October 6, from 2-8 pm. There is planned a VFW Memorial Ceremony at 6 pm, a Grotto Ceremony at 6:30 pm, and a Masonic Memorial Ceremony at 7 pm.

Herb's Funeral Ceremony is scheduled for Friday morning, October 7, at 11:00 am, also at Heeney-Sundquist.

Private interment will take place Monday at Acacia Park Cemetery in Beverly Hills.