Long-time bankers Charles Holmes and Joyce Mask will retire Dec. 31 from Gilmer National Bank.

Holmes has been with the bank 41 and a half years, and Mrs. Mask has been there 39 years.

Both are currently vice presidents of the financial institution.

Holmes, a 1957 graduate of Union Hill High School, went on to graduate from Kilgore College.

After working at a few other places, he went to work as a loan teller at Gilmer National, and rose to senior loan officer and vice president.

He said he has no immediate plans, except to enjoy his retirement.

Mrs. Mask attended Pritchett school until it merged with Gladewater, and graduated from there.

She took banking courses at Kilgore College, and was first employed at Gilmer National Bank as a bookkeeper.

She remembers working the drive-up window at the bank’s former location (when it was known as Farmers and Merchants Bank), when a woman came up to the window on horseback. There have also been motorcyclists and at least one motorized wheelchair which came to the drive-up window for service.

She was first hired by Bill Buie, then president, and Virginia Carroll and Kenneth Stewart.

Other presidents she served under, in addition to Buie, were Malcolm Smith, Max McPeek, Kenneth Stewart, Gary Patterson and Larry Cowan.

She plans to spend some time with her three sisters, then “look for something part-time.”