Victor Simpson Grimes Sr.

March 5, 1921 – March 27, 2016

Victor Simpson Grimes, Sr. 95, native of Chatom, AL and long time resident of Huntsville, AL, passed away on March 27, 2016.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Andrew Lee and Olivia Napper Grimes; his wife, Mary Grace Norris Grimes; grandson, William Oliver Posey and brothers, Joseph William Grimes and LeVoyde Grimes. He is survived by son, Victor Simpson Grimes, Jr. (wife, Rebecca Fowler); daughter Jane Marie Grimes Posey; son, James Andrew Grimes (wife, Peggi Murnane); grandchildren, Kimberly Posey, John Robert Grimes (wife Crystal Macintosh), David Victor Grimes (wife, Melissa Rimes); great grandchildren, Bailey Rose McDonald, Sara Jane Copeland, John Christopher Grimes, Parker Lawrence Grimes, Luke David Grimes; great-great grandchildren, Phoebe Rose Jones and Molly Rose Roberts.

He was a graduate of Washington County High School, Chatom, AL in 1939, worked in the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC), Richton, MS from October 1939 to July 1940, and enlisted in the Army Air Corps at Maxwell Air Field on July 2, 1940. In May 1943, he became a Special Agent with the Army and later with the Army Air Corps Counter Intelligence Corps (CIC) until the end of WWII. He was discharged from the Army Air Corps Maxwell Field, AL on October 17, 1945 as a T/Sgt.

He reenlisted in the 111th Army CIC Detachment in Atlanta, GA on March 27, 1947 while serving stateside Field Offices and with the 971st CIC Detachment in Seoul, South Korea, with assignment in Cheju City, Cheju Do Island, South Korea as a T/Sgt.

He was called to active duty as a 2nd Lt. on December 4, 1948 and transferred the same day to Tokyo, Japan, with assignment to the Security Branch, Army Security Agency, Pacific, APO 500. In February 1951, he set up and established a S-2 (Staff Office) for the agency. He returned to the states in December 1951, assigned to ASA Training School at Ft. Devens, MA and honorably discharged from the military on February 20, 1953 at Ft. Devens, MA as a 1st Lt.

He became a U.S. Civil Service Illustrator at Craig Air Force Base, Selma, Dallas County, AL, on July 6, 1953 and then reassigned to the Medical School of Graphic Arts at Gunter Air Force Base, Montgomery, AL. He was then reassigned to the Army Missile Command, Redstone Arsenal on November 28, 1958 and then to Marshall Space Flight Center (NASA) on June 1, 1060 where he worked with Dr. Werner Von Braun’s team of space engineers, as a Visual Information Specialist, until his retirement (34 years) on October 28, 1976.

He was a member of the Trinity United Methodist Church of Huntsville since 1959; Kiwanis Golden K Club of Huntsville; the Military Officers Association of America and American Legion Post 327. His hobbies were commercial art, golf, flying (240 hours), softball and photography.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to Trinity United Methodist Church (607 Airport Road SW, Huntsville AL 35802), the Kiwanis Golden K (PO Box 4648, Huntsville AL 35815) or a charity of your choice.

Visitation will be from 11:00 to 12:00pm on Wednesday, March 30, 2016 at Valhalla Funeral Home with a service, conducted by Pastor Mac Buttram, following immediately after in Valhalla’s Chapel. Entombment will be in the Chapel of Love Mausoleum, Valhalla Memorial Gardens. Please visit the guest registry at www.valhallafunerals.com.