Ed Grinder, the former President of Grinder, Taber & Grinder, Inc. who led his company for nearly five decades, wielding outsize influence in the city's real estate and construction community, died early Saturday morning just five days before his 92nd birthday.
Edward Ira Grinder was born in Plainview, Arkansas, on July 19, 1925 as the fifth of nine siblings. In his early years, he worked in the Arkansas fields with his family before leaving home by train at age 14 to work with the WPA, digging and setting telephone poles by hand throughout Missouri and Illinois.
In 1942, at age 17, he joined the Navy "SeaBees" construction battalion where he learned engineering and construction techniques while serving first in the European Theater, where he entered France, and then in the Pacific Theater, where he built runways and air support on Wake Island.
Postwar, Ed returned to Memphis where he met and married Ernestine Nelson in 1947. They lived in Frayser originally living within a few blocks of Ed's siblings and parents. He worked in residential construction with his brothers before joining Southern Builders, Inc. as a superintendent. He rose to the rank of Vice President supervising the construction of high rise towers in Los Angeles, Phoenix, New Orleans, and Atlanta. In Memphis, he was responsible for many buildings, including Memphis City Hall. After taking Southern Builders public on the American Stock Exchange, Ed, his brother Irvin "Curly" Grinder, and Harold Taber formed Grinder, Taber & Grinder, Inc. in 1968.
As President of GTG, Ed saw almost immediate success with large commercial projects, beginning with the Schlitz Brewery in 1969. He quickly made his mark as the city expanded eastward building major office and industrial parks for the Trammell Crow/Farnsworth company through the 1970's and 80's. Until his retirement at age 85, he continued to personally supervise large projects at Rhodes College and Second Presbyterian Church, wearing a Cowboy shaped hard hat. Even in retirement, he visited his office often, making his last visit to a project management meeting two weeks prior to his death.
Ed enjoyed spending time at Lake Hamilton in Hot Springs, Arkansas and Pickwick Lake, where he owned a home. He waterskied well into his 80's, and was an avid gardener, spending hours with his azaleas in Memphis, as well as his beds at Pickwick. Accomplished dancers, Ed and Tena rarely missed a Saturday night with friends at any club or restaurant with a dance floor. He also maintained close relationships with his Navy Seabee battalion, hosting reunions for the group in Memphis and traveling nearly every year to visit friends.
Although Ed left formal schooling early, he had an innate understanding of civil and structural engineering. Professional engineers would often call on him to work out building concepts and problems together. He read voraciously every day, including several newspapers and trade magazines to stay current on events. He continued to have lunch after retirement with professional engineers from time to time often discussing engineering and construction. He also spent a considerable amount of time with his family visiting with his children, grandsons and great-grandchildren recalling happy anecdotes from his humble childhood with a twinkle in his eye. His tale of "old three legs" was a favorite.
Ed is survived by his wife of 70 years, Tena Grinder, his brother, Don Grinder, his sons, Dan (Susan) Grinder and Fred (Brenda) Grinder, his daughter Vickie Rhudy, five grandsons, Danny (Renee) Grinder II, Brett (Megan) Grinder, David Grinder, Justin (Cara) Grinder, Neal Rhudy and seven great-grandchildren. He was predeceased by two grandsons, Josh Grinder and Jacob Rhudy.
Services will be held at Memphis Funeral Home, 3700 N. Germantown Parkway, Bartlett, TN 38133 with a visitation Tuesday, July 18 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. and funeral service Wednesday, July 19, at 2 p.m. followed by burial.
The family requests that any donations in his memory be made to St. Jude or MIFA.
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