Raymond Floyd Grimes, "Ray," 79, of Fort Smith, Arkansas, passed away on January 10, 2024, in Fort Smith, AR, in his home surrounded by his family. He was born on June 14,1944, to Elmer and Gladys Grimes of Altus, AR.
He graduated with honors from Altus High School. He attended college at Arkansas Tech University before enlisting in the United States Marine Corps. Ray volunteered to join combat operations in Vietnam in 1967 and was first in his class during training. He was stationed in Honolulu, Hawaii, prior to his transfer to Chu Lai Air Base in northern Vietnam where he served as an aircraft mechanic specialist. He achieved the rank of Corporal and received numerous medals and honors during his 3 1/2 years of service. After his military service, he returned to Arkansas where he met his beloved wife, Tricia Claghorn Grimes of Fort Smith, AR. He worked in the finance industry before retiring and devoting himself to his family.
Throughout his life, he dedicated himself to his children, Chris Grimes and wife Amanda Grimes of Houston, TX, and Kevin Ray Grimes and son Bennett Ray Grimes of Bentonville, AR. Ray was a devoted son, husband, father, grandfather, and brother. He cherished time with his family. He will be remembered for his humor, his love for God, and service to his country. He enjoyed the outdoors, spent free time working with his hands, listening to country music, and cherished his time as a stay at home dad and husband. In addition, his kind and sensitive nature was demonstrated in his care of many lucky dogs throughout the years. He was a nurturing, gentle, hardworking, and supportive man.The world was lucky to have such an example of what being a good human really means, and he will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved him.
His surviving family includes his brother Jessie "Pat" Grimes and wife Kaye of Fort Smith, AR; his nephew, Timothy Grimes and his children Haley and Lucas of Fort Smith, AR; one sister Ruby Spencer and husband Alfred Spencer of Paris, AR, his late nephew Buddy and Niece Sissy.
He is preceded in death by his father, Elmer Grimes; his mother, Gladys Grimes; two sisters, Alice "Jane" Perry, and Erma King; and one brother, William "Bill" Grimes.
Visitation will be held on Wednesday, January 17 from 5:00pm - 7pm at Edwards Funeral Home in Fort Smith, AR. Service will be held at on Thursday, January 18 at 12pm at Edwards Funeral Home in Fort Smith, AR, with his long-time family friend Edwin Armer presiding. Pallbearers include Terry Masingale, Jerry Howe, Timothy Grimes, Rick Helmer Jr, David Pennington, Timothy Grimes, and Kiley Barter.
Interment will be at the Fort Smith National Cemetery with graveside ceremony with full military honors directly after the service for those who would like to attend. Please contact Edwards Funeral home for additional questions regarding services. In lieu of flowers and in remembrance of Ray's life, the family asks that any donations be made to Disabled Veteran Americans (DAV) at www.dav.org.
He graduated with honors from Altus High School. He attended college at Arkansas Tech University before enlisting in the United States Marine Corps. Ray volunteered to join combat operations in Vietnam in 1967 and was first in his class during training. He was stationed in Honolulu, Hawaii, prior to his transfer to Chu Lai Air Base in northern Vietnam where he served as an aircraft mechanic specialist. He achieved the rank of Corporal and received numerous medals and honors during his 3 1/2 years of service. After his military service, he returned to Arkansas where he met his beloved wife, Tricia Claghorn Grimes of Fort Smith, AR. He worked in the finance industry before retiring and devoting himself to his family.
Throughout his life, he dedicated himself to his children, Chris Grimes and wife Amanda Grimes of Houston, TX, and Kevin Ray Grimes and son Bennett Ray Grimes of Bentonville, AR. Ray was a devoted son, husband, father, grandfather, and brother. He cherished time with his family. He will be remembered for his humor, his love for God, and service to his country. He enjoyed the outdoors, spent free time working with his hands, listening to country music, and cherished his time as a stay at home dad and husband. In addition, his kind and sensitive nature was demonstrated in his care of many lucky dogs throughout the years. He was a nurturing, gentle, hardworking, and supportive man.The world was lucky to have such an example of what being a good human really means, and he will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved him.
His surviving family includes his brother Jessie "Pat" Grimes and wife Kaye of Fort Smith, AR; his nephew, Timothy Grimes and his children Haley and Lucas of Fort Smith, AR; one sister Ruby Spencer and husband Alfred Spencer of Paris, AR, his late nephew Buddy and Niece Sissy.
He is preceded in death by his father, Elmer Grimes; his mother, Gladys Grimes; two sisters, Alice "Jane" Perry, and Erma King; and one brother, William "Bill" Grimes.
Visitation will be held on Wednesday, January 17 from 5:00pm - 7pm at Edwards Funeral Home in Fort Smith, AR. Service will be held at on Thursday, January 18 at 12pm at Edwards Funeral Home in Fort Smith, AR, with his long-time family friend Edwin Armer presiding. Pallbearers include Terry Masingale, Jerry Howe, Timothy Grimes, Rick Helmer Jr, David Pennington, Timothy Grimes, and Kiley Barter.
Interment will be at the Fort Smith National Cemetery with graveside ceremony with full military honors directly after the service for those who would like to attend. Please contact Edwards Funeral home for additional questions regarding services. In lieu of flowers and in remembrance of Ray's life, the family asks that any donations be made to Disabled Veteran Americans (DAV) at www.dav.org.
Raymond Floyd Grimes, "Ray," 79, of Fort Smith, Arkansas, passed away on January 10, 2024, in Fort Smith, AR, in his home surrounded by his family. He was born on June 14,1944, to Elmer and Gladys Grimes of Altus, AR.
He graduated with honors from Altus High School. He attended college at Arkansas Tech University before enlisting in the United States Marine Corps. Ray volunteered to join combat operations in Vietnam in 1967 and was first in his class during training. He was stationed in Honolulu, Hawaii, prior to his transfer to Chu Lai Air Base in northern Vietnam where he served as an aircraft mechanic specialist. He achieved the rank of Corporal and received numerous medals and honors during his 3 1/2 years of service. After his military service, he returned to Arkansas where he met his beloved wife, Tricia Claghorn Grimes of Fort Smith, AR. He worked in the finance industry before retiring and devoting himself to his family.
Throughout his life, he dedicated himself to his children, Chris Grimes and wife Amanda Grimes of Houston, TX, and Kevin Ray Grimes and son Bennett Ray Grimes of Bentonville, AR. Ray was a devoted son, husband, father, grandfather, and brother. He cherished time with his family. He will be remembered for his humor, his love for God, and service to his country. He enjoyed the outdoors, spent free time working with his hands, listening to country music, and cherished his time as a stay at home dad and husband. In addition, his kind and sensitive nature was demonstrated in his care of many lucky dogs throughout the years. He was a nurturing, gentle, hardworking, and supportive man.The world was lucky to have such an example of what being a good human really means, and he will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved him.
His surviving family includes his brother Jessie "Pat" Grimes and wife Kaye of Fort Smith, AR; his nephew, Timothy Grimes and his children Haley and Lucas of Fort Smith, AR; one sister Ruby Spencer and husband Alfred Spencer of Paris, AR, his late nephew Buddy and Niece Sissy.
He is preceded in death by his father, Elmer Grimes; his mother, Gladys Grimes; two sisters, Alice "Jane" Perry, and Erma King; and one brother, William "Bill" Grimes.
Visitation will be held on Wednesday, January 17 from 5:00pm - 7pm at Edwards Funeral Home in Fort Smith, AR. Service will be held at on Thursday, January 18 at 12pm at Edwards Funeral Home in Fort Smith, AR, with his long-time family friend Edwin Armer presiding. Pallbearers include Terry Masingale, Jerry Howe, Timothy Grimes, Rick Helmer Jr, David Pennington, Timothy Grimes, and Kiley Barter.
Interment will be at the Fort Smith National Cemetery with graveside ceremony with full military honors directly after the service for those who would like to attend. Please contact Edwards Funeral home for additional questions regarding services. In lieu of flowers and in remembrance of Ray's life, the family asks that any donations be made to Disabled Veteran Americans (DAV) at www.dav.org.
He graduated with honors from Altus High School. He attended college at Arkansas Tech University before enlisting in the United States Marine Corps. Ray volunteered to join combat operations in Vietnam in 1967 and was first in his class during training. He was stationed in Honolulu, Hawaii, prior to his transfer to Chu Lai Air Base in northern Vietnam where he served as an aircraft mechanic specialist. He achieved the rank of Corporal and received numerous medals and honors during his 3 1/2 years of service. After his military service, he returned to Arkansas where he met his beloved wife, Tricia Claghorn Grimes of Fort Smith, AR. He worked in the finance industry before retiring and devoting himself to his family.
Throughout his life, he dedicated himself to his children, Chris Grimes and wife Amanda Grimes of Houston, TX, and Kevin Ray Grimes and son Bennett Ray Grimes of Bentonville, AR. Ray was a devoted son, husband, father, grandfather, and brother. He cherished time with his family. He will be remembered for his humor, his love for God, and service to his country. He enjoyed the outdoors, spent free time working with his hands, listening to country music, and cherished his time as a stay at home dad and husband. In addition, his kind and sensitive nature was demonstrated in his care of many lucky dogs throughout the years. He was a nurturing, gentle, hardworking, and supportive man.The world was lucky to have such an example of what being a good human really means, and he will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved him.
His surviving family includes his brother Jessie "Pat" Grimes and wife Kaye of Fort Smith, AR; his nephew, Timothy Grimes and his children Haley and Lucas of Fort Smith, AR; one sister Ruby Spencer and husband Alfred Spencer of Paris, AR, his late nephew Buddy and Niece Sissy.
He is preceded in death by his father, Elmer Grimes; his mother, Gladys Grimes; two sisters, Alice "Jane" Perry, and Erma King; and one brother, William "Bill" Grimes.
Visitation will be held on Wednesday, January 17 from 5:00pm - 7pm at Edwards Funeral Home in Fort Smith, AR. Service will be held at on Thursday, January 18 at 12pm at Edwards Funeral Home in Fort Smith, AR, with his long-time family friend Edwin Armer presiding. Pallbearers include Terry Masingale, Jerry Howe, Timothy Grimes, Rick Helmer Jr, David Pennington, Timothy Grimes, and Kiley Barter.
Interment will be at the Fort Smith National Cemetery with graveside ceremony with full military honors directly after the service for those who would like to attend. Please contact Edwards Funeral home for additional questions regarding services. In lieu of flowers and in remembrance of Ray's life, the family asks that any donations be made to Disabled Veteran Americans (DAV) at www.dav.org.
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