John Frederick Grim III

John Frederick Grim III was born November 19, 1956, and grew up in Ellicott City, Maryland. He moved frequently and traveled widely during his successful career in sales, with business trips taking him around the world. He made Mechanicsville, Virginia, his home when he married his wife Karen in 2003.

A lifelong Catholic, John was a parishioner of St. Ann's Catholic Church in Ashland. He was a spiritual and compassionate man who never had an unkind word to say.

John loved nothing more than spending time with his three children, John, Ryan, and Bethany, whom he raised near Dayton, Ohio. On the weekends, he would often be found cheering from the sidelines at their sports games. He was extremely proud of each of them and how they grew into exceptional adults.

An avid sports fan—especially football and lacrosse—John was an All-American lacrosse player at Bowling Green State University in Ohio. He remembered every play he ever made and could recite statistics from every team and athlete he followed. After living in Virginia for a few years, he unapologetically started rooting for the Washington Football Team.

Like his father, he was quite the thorough storyteller. Karen would often tell him that he was asked for the time, not how to build the clock.

John's favorite place to be other than at home was Ocean City, Maryland, where he spent summer vacations as a child and much more time as an adult. Along with his love of the beach, he also enjoyed eating steamed crabs. He would pick and eat crabs for hours, and could be found at the table still picking away long after everyone else was done. Impressively, he hardly ever needed more than one paper towel.

John is going to be greatly missed by his wife, Karen; sons, John Frederick IV (Andrea) and Ryan; daughter, Bethany (Daniel); grandchildren, John Frederick V aka Jack and Perry; furry little four-legged girl, Lucy; and siblings, Margie Holcombe (Stuart), Leslie Ulman, and Rob Grim (Janelle). He was predeceased by his parents, John Frederick Jr. and Joan Grim.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Virginia Home for Boys and Girls and Bon Secours Hospice House. The family would like to extend heartfelt gratitude to the Bon Secours Hospice staff for all of the loving care they provided during John’s illness. Visitation will be Monday, August 9, from 6 to 8 p.m. at Nelsen Funeral Home (Ashland chapel). A funeral mass will be held Tuesday, August 10, at 10 a.m. at St. Ann’s Catholic Church in Ashland.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.NelsenAshland.com for the Grim family.