THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, February 19, 1995 TAG: 9502190005
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B8 EDITION: FINAL
DATELINE: PORTSMOUTH LENGTH: Medium: 71 lines
Ernest Eugene Grimsley, 88, of the 4500 block of Wake Forest Road, Pinehurst, died Feb. 18, 1995, in a local hospital.
Mr. Grimsley was born in Lake City, S.C. He was a well known entrepreneur who designed and manufactured industrial tools.
Mr. Grimsley started working as a machinist on steam locomotives and later worked with high-pressure steam systems of nuclear reactors in ships, submarines and power plants. He was a small-business man who successfully road a wave of technological development that swept through the Navy this century. He designed and patented many specialized tools such as those that hone torpedo tubes, grind propellers and carve worn steam valves out of steel housings.
He came to this area in 1929 and worked at Newport News Shipbuilding. In 1935 he began working at the Norfolk Naval Shipyard in Portsmouth and was one of the top civilian industrial officers when he left in 1953.
In 1955 he founded Grimsley and Grimsley tool business. He sold that business and established Grimsley's House of Tools, Inc., in 1974, which he operated until his death and which is still in operation.
Mr. Grimsley received the Hampton Roads Chamber of Commerce-Portsmouth Div., Distinguished Service Award on 1-18-86. He was a Virginia Delegate to the 1986 White House Conference on Small Business August 17-21. He was an American Small Business leader, putting America to work and building a stronger Nation. The Hampton Roads chamber of Commerce presented him an Award for this on 12-10-86.
On September 29th, 1987, Mr. Grimsley was chosen as a ``Local Notable'' by the Portsmouth Partnership, in conjunction with the City of Portsmouth. The Notable Occasion was a week-long celebration honoring individuals recognized for their outstanding contribution in the arts, community service, sports, medicine, politics and many other areas.
During World War II, he was a member of the Coast Guard Auxiliary..
He was a member of the Naval Masonic Lodge (NU)100, Portsmouth Scottish Rite Bodies, Khedive Shrine Temple where he was a Greeter, member and Past President of Portsmouth Shrine Club, Tall Cedars of Lebanon, Royal Order of Jesters, American Society of Engineers, Polygon Club, and Executive Club of Portsmouth and Portsmouth Chamber of Commerce. He was also a member of Elizabeth Manor Golf & Country Club of Portsmouth, and Charleston Country Club, Charleston, S.C. He was also an active member of the Little Theater of Portsmouth for years. He was a member of Monumental United Methodist Church and Walter Gum Sunday School Class.
He was a kind and loving husband and father. He was always cheerful and had a sparkling personality. He was a man who loved life and loved people and he had many friends who he often called ``Cousin''.
He is survived by his wife of 68 years, Cleo Mills Grimsley, a daughter and son-in-law, Lolita and Gordon French, of Portsmouth, and a grandson and granddaughter-in-law, Stephen and Gerri Trent, and two great grandchildren, Becky and Adam Trent, all of Alexandria, Va. He is also survived by a brother, George Grimsley, of Newport News, a brother, Richard Grimsley, and two sisters, Marian Brown and Jean Smith, all of Charleston, S.C.
The funeral will be conducted at 2 PM on Mon. Feb. 20 at Monumental United Methodist Church, Port's, by the Revs. Raymond Edmonds and Franklin Gillis. The family will be at Sturtevant Funeral Home Portsmouth Blvd. Chapel, Sunday Feb. 19, 1995, from 6:30 to 8:30 P.M. Burial will be at Olive Branch Cemetery in Port's and Masonic Rites will be accorded at the graveside.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Shriner's Crippled and Burned Children's Hospital-to the Recorders of Khedive Temple, 645 Woodlake Drive, Ches., 23320, or Zulekia Court No. 35, 313 New Street, Norfolk, 23503. ILLUSTRATION: Photo
KEYWORDS: DEATH OBITUARY by CNB