George Adam Holcomb, 88
Dec. 31, 1928 – Aug. 25, 2017
George Adam Holcomb was born in Venice, Calif., to Ruth and Carl Holcomb on Dec. 31, 1928. He passed away at Kootenai Health on Aug. 25, 2017, at the age of 88. He was one of six children, Edwin, Ben, Alice, Cornelia and Sally.
George, who was in the Navy and in the Air Force, served in Korea where he participated in the police action there. George married Elizabeth (Albers) Holcomb in 1962. The couple recently celebrated their 55th wedding anniversary. When asked by a newspaper reporter in 2008 what his secret to a long-term marriage was, George said, “It’s important that both are able to explore his or her own interests.” He went on to say that “he has Dutch oven cooking and his wife has church.”
George was the proud father of four sons, Jeff and Rob from his first marriage, and Michael and David with his wife, Elizabeth. In addition, George and Beth were foster parents to more than 20 foster children.
George worked as an aircraft mechanic, an automobile mechanic, managed an auto parts department and worked as an inspector for the composite aircraft parts industry. As a young man, he loved to race cars and motorcycles as a hobby. George and Beth relocated to Idaho from Southern California in 1988. George was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in the early 2000s, but that didn’t slow him down. George became very active in the Rathdrum community and among the projects for which George was an advocate, he helped to organize the Rathdrum Farmers Market in 2009. For many years he was involved with the Rathdrum Fall Festival. In honor of George’s contributions of his time and talents to the city of Rathdrum, the Rathdrum City Council designated one of the two softball fields in Majestic Park in Rathdrum as the “Holcomb Field.”
George was passionate about Dutch oven cooking and has taught many classes on the equipment and skills needed. He always said, “Imagination is the key ingredient for Dutch ovens.” Over the years George has written several cookbooks on the topic. George was a Scoutmaster for 25 years during which he taught hundreds of boys how to use Dutch ovens. In later years, George served as a senior companion for other senior adults who needed assistance.
George will be greatly missed by all those who knew and loved him. He is survived by his wife, Elizabeth (Beth); his brother, Edwin and sister Alice; his sons, Jeff, Rob, Michael and David; five grandchildren and five great-grandchildren; his sister-in-law, Mary Albers of Rathdrum; and brothers-in-law Jerry and Edward of California. He was preceded in death by his parents; his brother, Ben; sisters Cornelia and Sally; and his foster son, Ron Sailor.
The family wants to invite you to a memorial service for George Holcomb at noon Saturday, Sept. 2, 2017, at the Kootenai County Jail Museum, 7940 W. Second St., Rathdrum, Idaho. A lunch provided by the Shepherd of the Hills LWML will follow at the same location. The family will hold a private interment at the Pinegrove Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Disabled American Veterans, the Parkinson’s Disease Foundation or a charity of your choice.
The family of George Holcomb would like to especially thank the caregivers at Life Care in Post Falls, Idaho, for the loving attention they provided to George during his stay there and to the doctors and nurses at Kootenai Health for their kind and devoted end-of-life care.
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