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North Dallas Funeral Home obituary
2710 Valley View Lane
Dallas, TX 75234
Phone: 972-241-9100

Grimmer, George Gordon

February 16, 1917 - September 27, 2017

George Gordon Grimmer passed away on Wednesday, September 27 after a brief illness. Hewas born on February 16, 1917 in Lisbon, Texas (now a part of Dallas).
George graduated from Sunset High School in June 1934. He graduated from Texas A&M in 1939 with a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering and with a reserve commission as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Corp of Engineers. He worked as a consulting engineer at Fort Walters near Mineral Wells, Texas, then as an instructor in aircraft mechanics at Chanute Field, Illinois.
George’s active service in WWII started when he received orders to report for active duty on March 20, 1941 and was sent to Signal School at Fort Monmouth, New Jersey. In July 1941 George reported to the Chief Signal Officer in Washington, D.C. and was assigned to the War Department Code Room in the Munitions Building where he worked as a duty officer until December 1942. George was always intrigued by the “ciphers” that he worked with and had many interesting stories about the weeks prior to December 7, 1941 and the bombing of Pearl Harbor. George was with one of the first departments to move into the new Pentagon in April 1942. On December 31, 1942 now Captain Grimmer received orders to bring clothes for a temperate climate and report to Port of Embarkation, Brooklyn New York where “he will be equipped for extended field service, including steel helmet and gas mask”. About a week later his 3-person team boarded a converted coastal cruise ship and joined a convoy that included the Battleship Texas. While at sea Capt. Grimmer learned that he would report to Allied Headquarters in Algiers and be assigned to a Signal Message Company. George served in numerous locations in Africa and Italy for nearly 36 months.
His authorization to return home came in August 1945 and the journey shows the complexity of travel in 1945. On August 4, 1945 he departed from Casablanca, landed in Dakar, then across the Atlantic to Receif, Brazil with stops in Natal Brazil; Georgetown, British Guiana; San Juan, Puerto Rico then Miami, Florida. Next by train to Jacksonville, Florida; New Orleans, Louisiana; Fort Chaffee, Arkansas and then to San
Antonio. Finally back in Texas, he was granted a few days leave and George caught a bus home to Dallas and arrived on VJ Day, September 2, 1945. After separation from active duty, George continued to serve in the Army Reserves as a Major until 1955.
George was introduced to Glenna Jane Gardiner by his sister in the summer of 1952. He was working as a design engineer for Otis Engineering in Lafayette, Louisiana at the time and was home for a short visit. George and Glenna married on May 2, 1953 and he continued to work for Otis Engineering until his retirement.
George was actively involved in the Farmers Branch community for nearly fifty years. He served on the planning and zoning commission in Farmers Branch, the City Council and as Mayor of that city for ten years. He also volunteered at Janie Stark Elementary School assisting students with learning differences in math and reading. He was a longtime active member of St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church serving on the building committee and several times on the Vestry. He believed in community service and always found a way to do so, including two terms in the Texas Silver Haired Legislature.
George is survived by his wife of 64 years, Glenna Gardiner Grimmer, son George Grimmer Jr. (Susan), daughter Rebecca Nell Grimmer (David), and grandchildren Geoffrey, Allison and Jason. He was preceded in death by his grandson, George Grimmer III.
Funeral services for George will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, September 30, at St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church, 2583 Valwood Parkway, Farmers Branch, Texas 75234.
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Published in Dallas Morning News on Sept. 30, 2017

George Grimmer(1917 - 2017)
GRIMMER, George Gordon George Grimmer died on September 27, 2017 after a brief illness. Born February 16, 1917 in Dallas, TX to Richard and Ellen Grimmer, he was blessed with a long, rich life. George was active in the community and served as mayor of Farmers Branch for 10 years. George is survived by his wife of 64 years, Glenna Gardiner Grimmer, son George Grimmer Jr. (Susan), daughter Rebecca Nell Grimmer (David), and grandchil-dren Geoffrey, Allison and Jason. He was preceded in death by his grandson, George Grimmer III. Funeral services will be held at St. Andrew's Episcopal Church, 2783 Valwood Parkway, Farmers Branch, TX on Saturday, September 30, 2017 at 2:00pm. In lieu of flowers, those who wish may make a donation to the George Grimmer Memorial Scholarship at Texas A&M University for the benefit of future Engineering Students or St. Andrew's Episcopal Church.




Funeral Home
North Dallas Funeral Home - Dallas
2710 Valley View Lane Dallas, TX 75234
972-241-9100