1923
Marjorie
2015
Marjorie Ann Holmes
July 17, 1923 — November 1, 2015
MOTHER OF MAYOR GOLDSMITH DIES
NOV. 1, 2015, INDIANAPOLIS--Marjorie Ann Holmes, the mother of Mayor Stephen Goldsmith, died Sunday, November 1 in Indianapolis at the age of 92 of pneumonia. A lifelong tournament bridge player, she guided her son's early career with advice from her partners at the Indianapolis Bridge Center. While playing cards with the late Circuit Judge John L. Niblack, she prodded him to tell her where her son, later Marion County Prosecutor, should attend law school. "If you would just shut up and play cards, I promise to give you advice later," retorted Niblack, a champion player and a frequent bridge partner. Holmes holds her bronze life master in bridge.
She prided herself on her liberal politics, often recollecting the moment her father introduced her to Franklin Delano Roosevelt on a whistle stop tour of Iowa. Those liberal roots and a willingness to hold her own in a political conversation produced a tolerance that she imparted to her children.
She was born in Sioux City, Iowa, in 1923, to Lewis and Esther Weinberg, owners of a retail department store. She graduated from Monticello Jr. College, and attended the University of Oklahoma, where she majored in piano, and speech and debate, but left school in 1941, after Pearl Harbor was attacked. She returned to Sioux City, where she met her first husband, Joseph F. Goldsmith of Indianapolis, at a U.S.O dance. During their marriage, she held leadership positions with the Indianapolis League of Women Voters, Parent Teachers Association, Indianapolis Hebrew Congregation, and led discussion groups for Great Books, Inc.
While raising her children in Indianapolis, her friendships with a group of her neighbors, who called themselves the Willy-nillies, were all important to her. For close to twenty years this group of women met every Thursday to discuss childrearing and public affairs, Betty Witchger, Ellen Morse, Martha Burns, and Deedy Coble, who was the volunteer president of the Indianapolis Schools Board.
After divorcing Joseph Goldsmith, in 1973, she moved to Palo Alto, California, and married the late Oscar C. Holmes, Jr., a civil engineer from Stanford University, who built roads, bridges and dams throughout the West. She returned to live in Indianapolis in 2001 where her life was marked by bridge accomplishments and her warm friendships.
Burial will be in Arlington National Cemetery with Holmes, a Marine Corps veteran of World War II and a Purple Heart recipient. Aaron-Ruben-Nelson Mortuary is handling the arrangements. In addition to her son, survivors include a daughter, Dr. Julie A. Goldsmith of Indianapolis, stepson Richard Holmes of Houston, TX, grandchildren, Reid, Elizabeth, and Olivia Goldsmith.
Memoriam tributes may be made to IU School of Medicine, Department of Neurology, Research, 355 W. 16th Street, Indianapolis, IN 46202.
Calling will be held at Aaron-Ruben-Nelson Mortuary, 11411 North Michigan Road, Zionsville, IN 46077 on Wednesday, November 4, 2015 from 4:00-5:30 PM with a brief memorial service following the visitation at 5:30.
INDIANAPOLIS BRIDGE CENTER
Marge Holmes's tenacity at the bridge table was well known, along with her ability to sniff out a plan. She could get to slams that no one in the room could find there, and could execute the play of the hand to make her twelve or thirteen tricks.
Sharon Austin, Director, Indianapolis Bridge Center
Friends may leave a message of condolence for the family by visiting www.arnmortuary.com
NOV. 1, 2015, INDIANAPOLIS--Marjorie Ann Holmes, the mother of Mayor Stephen Goldsmith, died Sunday, November 1 in Indianapolis at the age of 92 of pneumonia. A lifelong tournament bridge player, she guided her son's early career with advice from her partners at the Indianapolis Bridge Center. While playing cards with the late Circuit Judge John L. Niblack, she prodded him to tell her where her son, later Marion County Prosecutor, should attend law school. "If you would just shut up and play cards, I promise to give you advice later," retorted Niblack, a champion player and a frequent bridge partner. Holmes holds her bronze life master in bridge.
She prided herself on her liberal politics, often recollecting the moment her father introduced her to Franklin Delano Roosevelt on a whistle stop tour of Iowa. Those liberal roots and a willingness to hold her own in a political conversation produced a tolerance that she imparted to her children.
She was born in Sioux City, Iowa, in 1923, to Lewis and Esther Weinberg, owners of a retail department store. She graduated from Monticello Jr. College, and attended the University of Oklahoma, where she majored in piano, and speech and debate, but left school in 1941, after Pearl Harbor was attacked. She returned to Sioux City, where she met her first husband, Joseph F. Goldsmith of Indianapolis, at a U.S.O dance. During their marriage, she held leadership positions with the Indianapolis League of Women Voters, Parent Teachers Association, Indianapolis Hebrew Congregation, and led discussion groups for Great Books, Inc.
While raising her children in Indianapolis, her friendships with a group of her neighbors, who called themselves the Willy-nillies, were all important to her. For close to twenty years this group of women met every Thursday to discuss childrearing and public affairs, Betty Witchger, Ellen Morse, Martha Burns, and Deedy Coble, who was the volunteer president of the Indianapolis Schools Board.
After divorcing Joseph Goldsmith, in 1973, she moved to Palo Alto, California, and married the late Oscar C. Holmes, Jr., a civil engineer from Stanford University, who built roads, bridges and dams throughout the West. She returned to live in Indianapolis in 2001 where her life was marked by bridge accomplishments and her warm friendships.
Burial will be in Arlington National Cemetery with Holmes, a Marine Corps veteran of World War II and a Purple Heart recipient. Aaron-Ruben-Nelson Mortuary is handling the arrangements. In addition to her son, survivors include a daughter, Dr. Julie A. Goldsmith of Indianapolis, stepson Richard Holmes of Houston, TX, grandchildren, Reid, Elizabeth, and Olivia Goldsmith.
Memoriam tributes may be made to IU School of Medicine, Department of Neurology, Research, 355 W. 16th Street, Indianapolis, IN 46202.
Calling will be held at Aaron-Ruben-Nelson Mortuary, 11411 North Michigan Road, Zionsville, IN 46077 on Wednesday, November 4, 2015 from 4:00-5:30 PM with a brief memorial service following the visitation at 5:30.
INDIANAPOLIS BRIDGE CENTER
Marge Holmes's tenacity at the bridge table was well known, along with her ability to sniff out a plan. She could get to slams that no one in the room could find there, and could execute the play of the hand to make her twelve or thirteen tricks.
Sharon Austin, Director, Indianapolis Bridge Center
Friends may leave a message of condolence for the family by visiting www.arnmortuary.com
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Marjorie Ann Holmes, please visit our flower store.
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