Gerald Grim

Gerald Mervin Grim, age 96, of Mount Airy, MD, went home to be with the Lord on Sunday, January 29, 2017 at Brinton Woods Healthcare Center in Sykesville, MD. He has now joined his beloved wife of 74 years, Virginia “Ginny” Blythe Sanford Grim and son, John Gilbert Grim in Heaven. “Gerry” was born December 1, 1920 to John Mayfield Grim and Glennie Pearl Swancutt in Sylvan, Wisconsin. Following a boyhood spent in MN and WI, Gerry, now 16, and family moved east to Delmar, NY, where his father passed away two years later. After quitting high school to help support the family, he returned to and graduated from Bethlehem Central High School in Delmar, NY. Part of “The Greatest Generation,” Gerry served in the US Army during WWII. He was inducted February, 1943, in Albany, NY, and honorably discharged February, 1946, in Fort Dix, NJ. Gerry spent the bulk of his time overseas in the Pacific on the island of Tinian. Trained as a refrigeration mechanic during the war, he decided to further his education in that field, graduating from the University of NY at Alfred in 1948 with an associate’s degree in Refrigeration, AC and Heating, followed by supplementary specialized education in subsequent years. A big career move came in 1955, when he was hired by Glenn L. Martin Co. and worked on the amphibious P-6 bomber, followed by involvement in the space program, beginning with Gemini and Apollo. He also worked at several nuclear and fossil fuel power plants along the way. He retired with a “well done” as Senior Engineer from Bechtel Corporation in 1985, but continued on short-term projects as called upon until 1993. Before the 1955 move to Baltimore, Gerry was a volunteer fire fighter with Guilderland Fire Dept. in Guilderland, NY. He was also a member of ASHRAE (American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-conditioning Engineers, Inc.) during his professional career. He greatly enjoyed woodworking projects—from large cabinets and bookshelves to small items and toys. For many years he took charge of crafts for 4-6 graders at his church’s Vacation Bible School—always minutely planned and very interesting. Gerry was an avid reader, especially of westerns, and also enjoyed singing and listening to the traditional hymns. Gerry is survived by his sister, Nita June Frink, 90, of Hendersonville, NC, children, Gail Kathleen Stuart, Charles Earl Grim and wife, Laura, Shelley Elizabeth Covington and husband, Roger, Bessie Blythe Neubauer and husband, Steve, 11 grandchildren , 11 great-grandchildren, and nieces and nephews who will miss “Uncle Gerald.” Gerry is predeceased by his step-father, William Curtis Stodart and brother, John Stuart Grim.
Friends may call at the Burrier-Queen Funeral Home & Crematory, PA., 1212 West Old Liberty Rd., Sykesville, MD 21784 from 3-5 p.m. and 7-9 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 3, 2017; where Funeral Service will be held on Saturday, February 4, 2017 at 10:00 AM; Interment Parkwood Cemetery; Those desiring may make contributions to the Baltimore Rescue Mission, PO Box 735, 4 N. Central Ave., Baltimore, MD 21203 in the name of Mr. Gerald M. Grim. Online condolences at www.burrier-queen.com.