Kenneth F. Grimes

Ken spent time in Fairbanks, Alaska as a young man where he worked in the grocery business and attended college. He entered the Army Air Corps at the start of WW II and served as a pilot with the 74th Bombardment Squadron based in Guatemala, the Galapagos and Panama. On leave in 1944 in Barbados, he met and married Mary, his wife of 66 years. They settled in Seattle where they raised their three children. Mary preceded him in death in 2010.

Ken's remarkable career was his own wholesale produce company, Ken Grimes Produce, the predecessor to Charlie's Produce, which he developed steadfastly into his 80s. His other pursuits included a devotion to and leadership in the Shrine organization where he was Potentate of Nile Temple; an avid love of fishing in the Pacific NW and Alaska; riding as an accomplished horseman for many years; and, a backyard gardening enthusiasm which offered both relaxation to him and beauty to his family.

Ken is survived by sons Kenneth (Linda) Grimes of Seattle; Michael (Linda) Grimes of Encinitas, California; daughter Pamela (Randy) Spoo of Snohomish; granddaughters Eleanor (Craig) Van Sickle of Anchorage and Samantha (Jeffrey) Tanner of Newport Beach, California; sister Gladys Rose of Eugene, OR; brothers-in-law Joseph (Anna) Mozejko of Danvers, MA and Dr. Albert Mozejko of Forest Grove, OR, and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by brothers Clarence and Julius and sisters Margaret and Thelma.