William Francis Grimes

William Francis Grimes died on Sunday, March 22 of the effects of Parkinson's disease. He passed away peacefully at Lower Cape Fear Hospice and Life Care Center with family members at his side. He is survived by his wife Regina Rose, sons Charles and Bill, daughter Diana Grimes Seaver, four grandchildren, four brothers-in-law, three sisters-in-law, and numerous nephews and nieces. He was predeceased by his parents and his sister June Grimes Corrow. Visitation will be at 10 a.m. Saturday March 28 at St. Mark Catholic Church. A funeral mass starts at 11 a.m., with a reception following. Born December 30, 1936 in New York City, Bill was adopted and raised by Charles Grimes and Bertha Gervais Grimes in Enfield, Connecticut. He graduated Enfield High in 1954 and served in the US Army from 1955 to 1958. Bill received a BA in Psychology on June 3, 1962 from the University of Connecticut. There he met Regina Rinaldi in 1961 and they were married June 9, 1962. Alarming his parents and in-laws, he left a job with the Southern New England Telephone Company in 1965 for a career in the computer industry. He worked for several computer companies, including IBM and Digital Equipment Corporation, as a programmer, systems designer, and marketing manager, until 1992 when Bill and Regina took early retirement and moved to Wilmington. Bill will be remembered for the wise and concerned way in which he guided his loved ones through life's vagaries and challenges. His legacy is the commitment to effort and excellence he instilled in his family. He took great joy in being onstage. Starting with parts in local and professional theatre in New Hampshire, he went on to perform numerous roles in Wilmington for Big Dawg Productions, the Thalian Association, and the Opera House Theatre Company. Bill read to students at Blair Elementary School as part of Bookpals, a program established by the Screen Actors Guild Foundation. He adored his four grandchildren, Jared Seaver, and Benjamin, Matthew, and Angelina Grimes. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Lion's Mane Tuition Assistance Fund at St. Mark Catholic School or to the Lower Cape Fear Hospice and Life Care Center.