Vernon (Vern) LeRoy Grimes, long time resident of Green Valley, passed away Saturday, October 1, 2016, at the age of 95.
Vern was born in Wichita, Kansas and moved at an early age to Colorado. He was a U.S. Air Force veteran of both WWII and Korea. He worked for U.S. West for 35 years, retiring as a third level engineering supervisor. Vern was involved with the Plains and Peak Council of the Telephone Pioneers of America. He was instrumental in the development of an audio soft ball for the blind that could be hit with a bat. He also worked in the infant testing program to screen babies for hearing loss.
Vern’s hobbies included building music boxes and making stained glass lamp shades as well as windows. He also worked as a volunteer at the Titan Missile Museum as a tour guide.
With his first wife, Bertha, he raised two sons: James and Kenneth Grimes, until her passing from cancer in 1973.
He married his second wife in 1974 and they began to build a life together. They built a ranch home in Colorado, traveled the world including Hawaii, Europe, Australia, and New Zealand before settling in Green Valley to live. They lived together there until Kay passed away on September 7, 2016 after 42 years of marriage.
He is survived by his sons; stepdaughters: Denise Ford, Patricia Sopp, Sheila Wallace, and Kathleen Calkins; seven grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; nine great-great-grandchildren; as well as numerous nieces and nephews. Their beloved dog, Maggie, also survives.
Tributes to Vern may be made in his name to Honor Flight AZ, P.O. Box 12258, Prescott, AZ 86304 or online at www.honorflightaz.org