Ed Grimwood
Edward D. Grimwood, 86, died Sept. 15, 2004, at Susan B. Allen Memorial Hospital, El Dorado.
Born Feb. 21, 1918, at Cedar Point, he was the son of Graham and Ruth (Dwelle) Grimwood.
He was a fourth generation Chase County Grimwood, his great-grandfather settled in the county after the Civil War.
Ed grew up in Cedar Point and attended school there. As a youth, he enjoyed camping, hunting, and fishing. He also was active in Boy Scouts and later served as a scout leader.
In 1942, he joined the U.S. Navy. With his knowledge of first aid he landed the role of treating wounded soldiers on the troop transport ship USS Custer. He achieved the rank of Chief Pharmacist's Mate supervising teams of emergency care providers. He earned the American Area Ribbon, Asiatic Pacific Area Ribbon with two bronze stars, and Philippine Liberation Ribbon with two bronze stars. He participated in action at Siapan, Guam, Leyte Gulf, Lingayen, Zambales Province, Okinawa, Jima, Kwajalein, and Eniwetok Atolls (Marshall Islands).
On Nov. 19, 1943, he married Betty Durbin at Burns. They lived in Washington, D.C., where Ed was in the Navy. The couple enjoyed flying and were co-pilots of their Piper Archer.
In 1954, Ed and Betty initiated a home visitation program for foreign students at the University of Kansas. The program celebrated its 50th anniversary last year. The couple enjoyed international travel, traveling to South America and Europe several times to visit friends made through the foreign student program.
Ed was best know as owner of Grimwood and Sons Hardware and Farm Supply for more than 50 years. His grandfather started the store at Cedar Point early in the 20th century. Ed opened the Burns branch in 1939, after attending business college at Hutchinson.
He was a member of Burns United Methodist Church, where he was a church leader, served as trustee and Sunday school teacher, played his guitar, and helped in many ways. He also was active in Burns Lions Club, the Masonic Lodge at Florence, and the Flint Hills Resource Conservation and Development program. He also served on the Burns school board.
His wife, Betty, died in 1999.
Survivors include his two sons and their wives, Charlie and Pat Grimwood of Salina and Tom and Nedy Grimwood of Burns; a sister, Eleanor Davidson of Florence; and two grandsons.
Funeral services were held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at Burns United Methodist Church with the Rev. Jim Bush officiating.
Special music was provided by the Eden Mennonite Quartet. Sandy Heyman was organist for the service.
Casket bearers were Calvin Hall, Ron Goodwin, Arlo Koehn, Lowell Koehn, Gene Obee, and Carl Riggs.
Burial was in Burns Cemetery with a Masonic graveside service and full military honors.
A memorial has been established with the church.
