Patricia Nancy Poling Holmes, 87

Patricia Nancy Poling Holmes, 87, died Jan. 9, 2010, at home in Sandpoint, Idaho, three days shy of her 88th birthday.

Pat was born in Casper, Wyo., on Jan. 12, 1922, the daughter of Clare Donelson Poling and May Stewart Ames Poling. She was the youngest of three daughters.

Shortly after her birth, the family moved to Denver, Colo., where Pat enjoyed a happy childhood taking music lessons and climbing the Rocky Mountains with her family. She graduated from Denver East High School in 1939.

She and her sisters all attended the University of Redlands, in Redlands, Calif., where she majored in pipe organ, earning a bachelor of music degree in 1943. She and her husband Cliff Holmes met there as students, both active in glee clubs and other musical activities.

Pat and Cliff married June 5, 1943. Pat continued her musical career as church organist and piano teacher while raising their three children. In 1972, Pat took teacher training at the London (England) Montessori Centre and became a classroom teacher at the Montessori preschool in Lisle, Ill., where she specialized in teaching music to very young children.

Pat earned a master’s degree in early childhood education from the National College of Education, where she also taught graduate courses. Cliff was a college administrator, retiring in 1982 as dean and vice president of George Williams College in Downers Grove, Ill.

Pat had a deep love of mountains — especially hiking and camping in the Colorado Rockies, which she considered “hers.” In addition to her love of the pipe organ, Pat discovered the joy of playing the folk harp, especially the music of Scotland.

Pat is survived by her husband, J. Clifford Holmes of Sandpoint; her three children, Kathy Holmes of Cambridge, Mass, Carol Holmes of Sandpoint, and Dick Holmes of Redwood City, Calif.; and her sister Miriam Lowry of Weed, Calif. She was preceded in death by her parents and her sister, Betty May Roemmich.

A memorial service will be held Jan. 23, 2010, at 11 a.m. at the First Lutheran Church of Sandpoint.

People wishing to make donations in Pat’s memory may consider giving to the organ funds of either the First Lutheran Church, 536 Olive Ave., Sandpoint, ID 83864; or the University of Redlands,1200 E. Colton Ave., Redlands CA 92373; or contribute to Heifer International 1 (888) 548-6437 —“ Tribute in memory of Patricia Holmes.”