WILLIAM E. GRIMES, LCDR, USN
William Grimes '47
Lucky Bag
From the 1947 Lucky Bag:
William Elmer Grimes
Catawissa, Pennsylvania
After three hard years at Penn State and twenty-eight delightful days in the Army, Bill decided a military life was to his liking. That was in 1943. Meanwhile, Icetongs has left his mark—today his bridge partners are mental wrecks; his athletic opponents, invalids; his classmates, bleeding tributes to a wicked slipstick and a savvy brain. Like most of us, he considered women and song to be of secondary importance, but he was always able to produce an extraordinary drag. Bill takes with him a host of friends and leaves behind an enviable record.
The Class of 1947 was graduated in June 1946 due to World War II. The entirety of 2nd class (junior) year was removed from the curriculum.
William Elmer Grimes
Catawissa, Pennsylvania
After three hard years at Penn State and twenty-eight delightful days in the Army, Bill decided a military life was to his liking. That was in 1943. Meanwhile, Icetongs has left his mark—today his bridge partners are mental wrecks; his athletic opponents, invalids; his classmates, bleeding tributes to a wicked slipstick and a savvy brain. Like most of us, he considered women and song to be of secondary importance, but he was always able to produce an extraordinary drag. Bill takes with him a host of friends and leaves behind an enviable record.
The Class of 1947 was graduated in June 1946 due to World War II. The entirety of 2nd class (junior) year was removed from the curriculum.
Loss
William was lost when his A5A Vigilante crashed near NAS Patuxent River, MD, on March 17, 1961.
Other Information
From researcher Kathy Franz:
His plane pulled upward at a 45 degree angle reaching 3,000 feet before it plunged into 5 feet of water.
William attended Catawissa High School. In his junior year, he was sports co-editor for the yearbook, and he played soccer and baseball. He enlisted in the Army on October 14, 1942, at State College.
He was survived by his wife, Jane Preston, and three children. His father Marvin was a proprietor of a garage, mother Edith, brothers Harold and Donald, and aunt Bessie.
His wife later remarried.
He is buried in Pennsylvania.
Related Articles
Kenneth Brown '47, John Pownall '47, George Dent, Jr. '47, and Joseph Melesky '47 were also in 10th Company.
The "category" links below lead to lists of related Honorees; use them to explore further the service and sacrifice of alumni in Memorial Hall.
