Virginia Lou Holmes-Painter

Virginia “Cookie” Holmes-Painter, 69, of Dowagiac passed away on Tuesday, April 26, 2016 at Borgess-Lee Memorial Hospital in Dowagiac. Friends and family may visit from 3:00 PM until 6:30 PM, Friday, April 29, 2016 at Starks & Menchinger Chapel & Cremation Services, 2650 Niles Rd. St. Joseph. A Celebration of Life Service will be held following visitation at 6:30 PM. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to American Cancer Society. Those wishing to sign Cookie’s Guest Book may do so online at www.starks-menchinger.com. Cookie was born on September 12, 1946 in Benton Harbor to Thomas B. & Frances D. (Peterson) Holmes-Walker. She graduated from Benton Harbor High School in 1964. Cookie was the beloved daughter of the Holmes family, who operated the  Holmested restaurant for 30 years in Benton Harbor, MI. She also lived in Marion, North Carolina with her late husband Ray Painter where she worked as a librarian for ten years and had many dear family and friends. Cookie is survived by her three children, Richard Craft of Dowagiac, Timothy (Jeanne) Craft of Frankfort, IL, Susan (Mike) Duchene of Detroit, and 10 Grandchildren; siblings, Nancy Holmes-Booe-Vaughn of Niles, Virginia “Ginny” Holmes of Stevensville and Jeanne Holmes-Lubbers of Katy, TX She was preceded in death by her parents; husbands Robert Zavec and Ray Painter; brother Tommy Holmes and brothers-in-law Richard Vaughn and Ron Lubbers.