Grady R Poole Sr.

Col. Grady Richard Poole, Sr. (US Army Retired) (April 8, 1926- April 9, 2017) Grady R. Poole was born in Jasper, a small town in the northern hills of Georgia. At eighteen years of age, Grady joined the Navy to serve in WWII. After the war he came home to Georgia to attend the North Georgia Military Academy. It was there that he met the love of his life, a prominent Cuban girl, Elsa Sanchez Casado Pesino de Moreno, who was attending the nearby Brenau College in Gainesville. At the end of the school year, Grady made his way to Cuba and surprised Elsa, who had no idea he was coming. He had secured a tour of Cuba with a local Georgian newspaper. In 1948 they were married in Havana with the blessings of Elsa’s distinguished parents Alvaro Moreno and Marialola Casado-Moreno. Years later, it was then Captain Grady Poole who was there to receive and help transition the Cuban relatives who had come as refugees to the U.S. Col. and Mrs Poole shared 68 years of wonderful married life. As a military officer Grady served in Germany, Korea, Venezuela, Vietnam, Japan, and various stations across the continental U.S. In Vietnam he participated in fierce military operations in the Ashau Valley. It was after his tour in Vietnam that Grady was highly commended and promoted to full Colonel. While in the military, Col. Poole received his Bachelor's degree in Economics from The Colorado College, Colorado Springs, and his M.B.A, from the University of Alabama, Huntsville. During his distinguished career Col Poole received various citations, among them were the following: Legion of Merit Vietnamese Gallantry Cross with Palm Vietnamese Gallantry Cross with Silver Star Meritorious Service Medal with Cluster Army commendation Medal Air Medal After his retirement from the military in 1978, Col. Poole worked for the Shah of Iran where he stayed on into the harrowing period of the fall of that regime. Back in the States he worked for the Department of Agriculture, and while working there he also started his own company El Poco Enterprises that is still in operations to this day run by his eldest son Lt. Col. (ret), Grady R. Poole, Jr. Grady and Elsa travelled the world both during his years as a career military man, and after retirement as world travelers. Among the places they visited; China, India, Africa, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, and South America. Their last major trip was a 45 day cruise around South America. At the age of 90, Grady made his last short trip with Elsa to Miami and the Caribbean. Col. Poole’s life was a life of adventure, duty to country, and love of family. He lived a wonderful, full life. He was the solid patriarch of 3 generations and a role model to everyone who knew him. Col. Poole is survived by his wife Elsa, and their four boys (no girls), Lt. Col. Grady R. Poole Jr,(ret.) and his wife Nancy Poole, Wayne G. Poole, Ph.D., Marcos J. Poole, and Leslie E. Poole and his wife Sara Poole. The grandchildren are: Grady Richard III, Mariel Poole, Lilah Rebecca Poole, Diego Poole, Ellen Poole, Nicholas Poole, Charlie Poole, and Andrew J. Poole. Arrangements under the direction of Demaine Funeral Home, Alexandria, VA.