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 James E. Holcomb
February 26, 2002
James E. Holcomb, 89, of Melbourne Place died Tuesday at the Mount Greylock Extended Care Facility, where he had resided for more than three years.
Born in Rogers, Ark., on Aug. 11, 1912, son of Charles W. and Zola Proudfit Holcomb, he was a 1930 graduate of Greenville High School in Greenville, Ill. He earned a bachelor of science degree in mathematics and physics in 1934 from Greenville College and a master's degree in physics in 1936 from the University of Illinois.
For several years he was employed as a geophysicist for Shell and Coastal Oil of Houston. In 1941 he went to work for GE in Pittsfield as an electrical engineer.
From 1945 to 1968 he was a development engineer in the advance product engineering subsection of the distribution transformer department. In 1949, Mr. Holcomb received a managerial award for improvements in impulse testing methods, and held four patents concerning impulse testing, audible sound reduction and core insulation. He also published eight technical papers for the Institution of Electrical and Electronic Engineers, three of which won prizes.
He was a licensed professional engineer in Massachusetts, New York and Mississippi and was a life member of the American Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers.
In 1968, after 27 years with GE, he joined and helped build a newly formed company, Howard Industries Inc. of Laurel, Miss. Starting as a senior development and design engineer, he was promoted to vice president of engineering. Upon his retirement in 1979, he returned to Pittsfield and continued as an engineering consultant for several years.
Mr. Holcomb had been a member of the choir of South Congregational Church and more recently, a member and choir member of St. Stephen's Episcopal Church. Between 1949 and 1968, when he lived in Lanesboro, he was a member of the Mount Greylock Regional School Committee for six years. He also enjoyed hunting, fishing, gardening and music.
He leaves his wife, the former Monica Wells, whom he married Dec. 21, 1945; twin sons, David J. Holcomb of Newbury, N.H., and Charles W. Holcomb of Nashua, N.H.; three daughters, Anne H. Hunter of Newmarket, N.H., Lynn M. Holcomb of Pittsfield and Beth Franzen of Londonderry, N.H.; two brothers, Charles W. Holcomb of Lamar, Mo., and Dale P. Holcomb of Hendersonville, N.C.; and six grandchildren.
The funeral will be Saturday at 1 at St. Stephen's Episcopal Church in Pittsfield with the Rev. David DeSmith, interim rector, officiating. Burial will follow in Pittsfield Cemetery. Calling hours will be Friday from 4 to 7 at the WELLINGTON FUNERAL HOME. In lieu of flowers, donations are suggested to St. Stephen's Episcopal Church or Berkshire County Association for Retarded Citizens in care of the funeral home.
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