Truman A. Grant

Truman A. Grant was a natural leader whose winning presence allowed him to take control of various situations with ease. Equipped with a clear and calculating focus, he possessed a tough-minded, “take charge” attitude. He had the ability to make even routine situations seem exciting, and he was at ease with the role of playing problem solver. Truman always sought out the scene of where the action was. Sociable, analytical and pleasant, Truman was an individual who enjoyed life’s challenges.

His parents were Truman Everett Grant & Elinor Ruth Logan. Truman was raised in Myrtle Creek, Oregon. Always able to express himself well, Truman possessed strong interpersonal skills. He was optimistic in his outlook on life and was able at all times to be open and direct in his communication. Armed with a great wit, Truman was raised to be accepting of others and to implement a strong personal work ethic.

Blessed with a balanced attitude, Truman was able to relate well with others. His occasional role as family mediator gave him the opportunity to ease tense situations when they occurred. Truman was raised with four siblings. He had one older brother Everett "Skip", two older isters Florian "Dove" & Ramona "Ruth" and one younger brother Edward "Eddie". Truman had a strong desire to be treated fairly and would readily offer others the same fairness in return.

As a young child, Truman showed his creative ability in many ways. He was outgoing and animated. Truman enjoyed new activities and pursued a variety of interests. In his spare time he liked to take apart vacuum cleaners & discarded TV's to see how they worked.

Known to others as a focused, logical, open-minded and somewhat driven individual, Truman was able to utilize these qualities to succeed in high school. His curious nature was spurred by his ability to maximize his personal learning style through employing a hands-on approach. He was good with facts and had an excellent memory. He graduated from Canyonville High School in 1971. He enjoyed some courses more than others, having favorite classes and teachers. His favorite class in high school was math. He earned his scuba diving license but was most proud of earning his pilot's license.

When the goal of college was in sight, it became important to Truman. Again, his direct, “down to earth” approach served him well. He was able to absorb complex concepts and had an acute sense of how things worked. He earned his his Associates of Science in Electronics Technology from College of the Desert in 1977. His favorite courses was Trigonometry. Truman's other interest was using his Volkswagen Bettle as an All Terrain Vehicle - he thought it could go anywhere.

Friends and acquaintances found Truman an easy man to get to know, and those close to him would often praise his open, practical style of communication and relaxed approach to life in general. Truman was uncomplicated and straightforward in his relationships, which allowed him to accept people for what they were. Later in life, Truman considered everyone he met his friend.

On December 18, 1975 Truman exchanged wedding vows with Candace Ena Henderson at the Palm Springs SDA Church of Palm Springs, California. Truman was attentive to Candy's feelings, and he charmed Candy and others with his gift for being able to give freely and generously. A good listener with an engaging personality, Truman was able to bring pleasure and unexpected humor to the relationship.

Very much like a kid himself, Truman identified with the inquisitive and creative side of his children’s personalities. He was able to direct his energy and spontaneity towards helping his children acquire added common sense skills. Truman was blessed with two children, One son Chris, and one daughter Alicia.

Truman was a flexible worker who was able to draw the best from others around him. A persuasive individual who was quick to make necessary decisions, Truman’s strengths included being able to think on his feet. He could be a leader who sought impact for his decisions. Gifted with an incredible ability to read body language, Truman was able to positively manipulate situations and motivate others in order to get a task completed. He was a good negotiator who enjoyed new challenges. Truman could multi-task, and he was endowed with entrepreneurial spirit, allowing him to think beyond standard norms when it came to resolving issues in his work environment. His primary occupation was Installation Specialist for Radiology rooms. He started with servicing X-Ray equipment, moved on to repairing CT & MRI's, then installing & more recently planning the radiology rooms. (32 yrs.).

Truman enjoyed his leisure time by taking part in various hobbies. He had something of an artistic flair in many of the things that he did. He put this creativity toward all of his pastimes. His favorite pursuits were finding the best deals and adventures in home remodeling. He was content to enjoy his hobbies alone but was also willing to share his interests with others.

Because he liked to take risks, Truman was a perfect match for athletics and exercise. He was enthusiastic and confident about these activities. Recreational sports included walking the dog on hiking trails. Truman was also something of a sports fan and enjoyed watching his favorite events whenever he got the opportunity. Tops on his list was NASCAR racing and police car chases on TV.

Truman was a gifted problem solver who worked hard to help accomplish group goals. This skill made him a wonderful asset to the various groups and organizations to which he belonged. Always matter-of-fact about what needed to be done, Truman worked steadily to meet any organization’s goals. Throughout his later years, Truman was an active member of the Arlington SDA Community Service Team.

Truman was a generous man who prized that same quality in others. So it’s little wonder that he was so active and giving in his community. Politically, Truman was strong supporter of the Republican Party.

Truman held close traditional values and as a result, faith was important to him. He was a member of Arlington SDA Church for 16 years - a Seventh-Day Adventist since childhood. During that time, he was a Deacon, Sabbath School helper & food pantry worker. Truman's stewardship also included participation with church board and finance committees and a willing helper for all church work bees.

Truman’s natural leadership qualities placed him in consideration for public recognition, earning him accolades for his many and varied efforts throughout his life. Some of his most prestigious awards included Certified Greenbelt, Management Awards, Golden Hard Hat Awards, ISO auditor & recognition for his work through numerous bonuses & nights on the town.

Travel and vacations were experiences that Truman truly enjoyed. He preferred to seek out excitement wherever he went and he was partial to vacations that were casual and laid back with an atmosphere of “live and let live.” He was willing to leave his plans open and flexible, just in case something more interesting came along. He enjoyed mini-vacations to Desert Hot Springs.

Truman was a lover of animals and cherished his pets. One of Truman’s favorites was Chance, a Weimaraner dog. They were best friends for just short of 13 years. We've always had dogs in the family - Shannon, Sassy, Sunny, Chance and lastley Bella.

Truman passed away on January 28, 2012 at His home in Riverside, California. Truman fought a brave battle against brain cancer. He is survived by his wife Candy; son Christopher and daughter Alicia; his mother Elinor, his sisters Dove and Ramona and his brothers Skip and Eddie. Services were held at Arlington Seventh-Day Adventist Church. Truman was laid to rest in Green Acres Memorial Park, Bloomington, California.

Truman was the kind of person who could win others over easily. A concrete communicator, he relied on his senses to increase his involvement and awareness of others. He was always able to provide amusing repartee to his friends and acquaintances, offering a seemingly endless supply of quips, anecdotes, jokes and stories. If Truman had a theme song written about him, it might well have been “Don’t Worry, Be Happy.” He enjoyed his life and the experience of living it. This is how everyone will remember Truman A. Grant.