Dr. John H. Holcombe, MD., retired, 77, died on August 5th. He was born on August 7, 1948, in Jefferson, Texas, to John White Holcombe and Martha Kennon Driscoll Holcombe.

At the time of John’s birth, his parents owned and operated a small dairy farm in Jefferson, Texas. In 1956, John moved with his family to Muskogee, Oklahoma, where his father established a successful veterinary practice. John attended several grade schools around Muskogee, attended West Junior High, and graduated from Muskogee Central High School in 1966, the last year the old building held classes. John enrolled in Northeastern State College in Tahlequah, where he studied before transferring to Oklahoma State University in 1967. He studied premedical sciences. John had learned along the way that one could get into medical school with a minimum of 94 credit hours, without a college degree, so he set his sights on that goal. He studied hard (because he had no car), got good grades, and even became a laboratory assistant as a junior in the comparative anatomy laboratory. Indeed, John was accepted into the University of Oklahoma College of Medicine with the minimum number of college credits, becoming one of the youngest members of his class. At the end of medical school, John spent three years as a pediatric resident (two at OU and one at West Virginia University).

From there, John traveled to the Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas, where he spent three years as a Pediatric Endocrine Fellow with the late Dr. George Clayton. At the end of the Fellowship, John accepted a full-time faculty position in the Department of Pediatrics at the University of Oklahoma College of Medicine. During that time, John was awarded a residency Teaching Award, cared for children with endocrine disorders (such as diabetes, growth delay, other hormone imbalances) and eventually became the Director of House staff Education. In that role, John supervised the pediatric education of the many residents and interns. After eight years on the faculty of Pediatrics, John was awarded tenure and promoted to Associate Professor of Pediatrics.

However, in 1987, Eli Lilly and Company’s Lilly Research Laboratories recruited John away from Oklahoma to the corporate headquarters in Indianapolis. There, John became heavily involved with clinical trials of many drugs, initially biosynthetic human grown hormone. Over the next several years, John worked in different areas of the medical component, all the while participating in the development of potential diabetes drugs for humans. In the US and abroad, John became known as an outstanding speaker on the cost of drug development and its intricate process. John retired from Lilly in 2010, after 23 years.

John was a lifetime learner and perfectionist. When he set his heart on learning something new, he simply pursued that interest. From dabbling in pen and ink drawings of old barns and sailing ships, John wanted to absorb as much as possible. In 1991, John became a private pilot, eventually earning a commercial license, and instrument and seaplane ratings. He also earned his US Coast Guard’s captain’s license for sailing small vessels. Further into retirement, John became interested and heavily involved in radio-controlled (RC) model aircraft and custom-built model sailboats. With no music background, John learned to play the Great Highland Bagpipe. He joined several bands over time and became an excellent instructor. A lifelong love of fine woodworking saw John with a full-size wood shop in the basement of his home. There, he loved to build furniture for the household such as fine tables, cabinets, and benches. He built several sewing and fabric tables for Dawn. The work for which he was most proud, however, were pieces of woodwork for St. Christopher’s Episcopal Church. From a weathered ‘outdoor’ altar created during Covid, to a utilitarian altar side table, to the eye-catching baptismal font, those were the pieces of which John was most proud.

John was adored by everyone who had the privilege of knowing him. He was a devoted and loving husband to Dawn, always supporting her passions—even crafting an entire spinning wheel by hand so he could spin custom yarn for her knitting. He cherished being a father and was an extraordinary dad to his daughters.

Lovingly known as "Papa John" to his grandchildren, he always had a story to share, a joke to make them laugh, or a magic trick to leave them in awe. Each Christmas season, he spent days baking gingerbread houses completely from scratch, even installing remote-controlled lights so his grandchildren (and daughters) could decorate them together.

John never hesitated to lend a hand, whether it meant repairing something, building something new, or helping anyone in need. His family's homes are filled with the beautiful custom pieces he created, each one a lasting reminder of his remarkable talent, generosity, and love.

Larger than life, John left an immeasurable mark on the hearts of those who knew him. His kindness, creativity, humor, and unwavering devotion to his family will be cherished always. He will be deeply and profoundly missed.

Dr. Holcombe was preceded in death by his father, John White Holcombe DVM; mother, Martha Kennon Holcombe; and sister Martha Kennon Kymes.

He is survived by his wife, Dawn Theresa Holcombe, along with his longtime friend and former wife and mother to his children, Brynn Boyd Holcombe Moore of Carmel, Daughters Ann Emley Kirsh (Grant) and Julia Merrin Mills (Greg), and grandchildren Grayson Payne Mills, Parker Ann Mills, Hayden Claire Mills, Zoe Faith Mills, Anna Brynn Kirsh and Brogan Michael Kirsh, sister Sally Oringderff, and nieces and nephews Matthew Kymes, Mason Kymes, Madison Kymes, David Eagan, and Sarah Helterbrand, and cousins Johnette Comegys Huguley, Scotty Comegys, and Kennon Comegys.

John had three adult stepdaughters with Dawn: Laura Paolercia (Michael), sons Wyatt and Kyle Paolercio, Sarasota Florida; Erin Ivancevic, children Brooke Ivancevic, Hayley Ivancevic, and Jake Ivancevic, Kelly Gomez (Alex) and sons Justin and Brandon.

A funeral service will be held at 1pm at St. Christopher Episcopal Church, 1402 West Main Street, Carmel, IN 46032, on Friday, August 28th. Family and friends are welcome to visit from 12 pm until the time of the service.

Memorial contributions may be made to St. Christopher's Episcopal Church in John's name: https://stchriscarmel.org/give/

Arrangements entrusted to Aaron-Ruben-Nelson Mortuary.