Allen Holcomb, MD
July 17, 1934 - August 22, 2017
Allen Holcomb, M.D. of Orlando, Florida, passed away peacefully on August 22, 2017, at the age of 83. He was born in Jacksonville on July 17, 1934 to the late Edgar and Aretha Holcomb. They moved to Orlando in 1939.
Allen was an outstanding scholar, athlete, and leader throughout his life. He attended Delaney Elementary School and Cherokee Junior High. He was a member of the last class of Orlando High School, graduating in 1952. At OHS, Allen was President of the Student Council, lettered in three sports and received the Guernsey Good Citizenship Award. He received a national academic scholarship for college.
In 1952, Allen enrolled in Emory University with the goal of becoming a doctor. He was initiated into Sigma Chi Fraternity, serving as Consul (President), and was Chairman of the University Honor Council. Upon graduation, Allen was inducted into Omicron Delta Kappa, a national leadership honor society. In 1956, Allen enrolled in Emory Medical School where he was inducted into Alpha Omega Alpha, a national medical school scholastic society. Upon graduation from medical school, Allen completed an internship in Internal Medicine at Emory Hospital.
Allen served in the Army Medical Corps from 1961 to 1963, stationed at Killeen Base, Texas, a facility of The Defense Atomic Support Agency. From 1963 to 1966, Allen completed training in Internal Medicine and Nephrology at the University of Florida where he received the Outstanding Housestaff Teaching Award. Allen started his private practice in internal medicine and nephrology in Orlando in 1966, and practiced until his retirement in 1998. His major hospital affiliation was with ORMC (formerly Orange Memorial). He started working there in the mailroom before going off to college, and eventually served as its Chief of Medicine.
Allen was a member of the Orange County Medical Society, The Country Club of Orlando and The First Presbyterian Church of Orlando. Allen was also a founding member of The Magruder Foundation, a charitable organization. Allen Holcomb loved his family above all. In 1955, while in college, Allen met Sara Bissell Townsend who was attending Agnes Scott College. They married on June 21, 1958. Sara was the love and light of Allen's life, and he was devoted to her throughout their 59 years together. He made a difference in the lives of many people, but none more than those lucky enough to be his family.
He is survived by his wife, Sara Holcomb; his son, Keith Holcomb and his wife, Daphne; his daughter, Elizabeth Lemke and her husband, David; his grandchildren, Bennett Holcomb and his wife, Jenn, Ginnie Holcomb, Carrie Lemke, Emma Lemke and Charlotte Lemke; his great-grandchildren, Harvey and Bosco Holcomb; and numerous nieces and nephews. He is predeceased by his parents and his older brothers, Edgar and William Holcomb.
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