Patterson Cemetery District, Stanislaus County, CA 

Submitted by Gale Stroud and Burta Herger 26 Aug 2007

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Holcomb Ocie D 530917 p1
Man, Grandson Drown Sunday; Ocie D Holcomb; A birthday picnic ended in tragedy Sunday afternoon when Ocie D.
Holcomb. of Modesto, who was celebrating his 49th birthday and his five-year-old grandson, Clair, drowned in the San
Joaquin river. The elder Holcomb lost his life while trying to save his son, Gilbert, and grandson Clair.  According to
sheriff's office reports, Gilbert had gone swimming with his child riding his neck and the grandfather had plunged in after
them when the youngster got excited and began choking his father. Witnesses said the grandfather reached the pair and
managed to pry the frightened youngster loose, but the child grasped him around the neck, also, and the two sank from
sight within seconds.  The drownings occurred about 20 yards from shore in 16-foot deep water.  A sheriff's crew located
the bodies within 20 minutes after starting dragging operations. The Holcomb family was picnicking at the Shad Banks,
on Carpenter road where TID Lateral Five empties into the river. Gilbert Holcomb decided to go swimming about 3:30 p.
m. and the drownings occurred a short lime later.