Grant R. Christian

GRANT R. CHRISTIAN, 87, of Norwich, NY, passed away on April 1, 2025. Grant was born November 28, 1937, to Fitzhugh and Mary (Davis) Christian in Oxford, NY where he spent his early years working on the family farm.

On November 16, 1991, Grant married his love, Kathleen Christian, who survives. Grant and Kathy met at P&G, where he worked for 42 years. He also worked several other jobs in his earlier years while raising his family; Dawn (Hal) Skillin of Norwich, NY, Randy (Connie) Christian of Richfield Springs, NY, and Kelly Landon of Greene, NY, who all survive.

When Grant and Kathy married, the family grew by adding 5 stepchildren: Jim (Frances Bell) Green of Wetumpka, AL; Tim White of Norwich, NY; Kimbal (Sue) Green of Endwell, NY; Tom (Chris) Green of Norwich, NY; and BobbieJo (Keith) Meyer of Norwich, NY, who all survive.

Following retirement in 2000, Grant enjoyed gardening and mowing the lawn. He planted hundreds of tomato plants for Kathy, even though he never liked them. Grant would have loved to mow every day, but the grass didn’t grow fast enough for him. He was still riding his tractor and mowing the lawn at the age of 86 with the help of his sons-in-law, Hal Skillin and Keith Meyer. When the seasons changed and the mowing season was over, Grant would cheer on his Dallas Cowboys. While these were some of the things he enjoyed most in life, spending time with family was at the top of his list. Nothing lit up his face like seeing the smiling faces of his 16 grandchildren and 21 great-grandchildren who also survive.

Grant was a very caring, good-natured, compassionate and friendly man. If you didn’t know him, there is still a very good chance he has smiled, said hello, and asked how you were.

In addition to his loving wife, children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, Grant is also survived by brother Alan Christian, sister Sandra Carlin, sisters-in-law Marylyn Christian and Ann Christian, brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law Claude (Mary) Christian, Ronald (Ascenith) Christian, and Donna Barney, as well as several nieces and nephews.

He was predeceased by his parents, brothers Linn Christian, Gary Christian, sister Alma Biviano Tillapaugh, brother-in-law James Barney, sister-in-law Marie Christian and son-in-law Chris Landon.

Donations in Grant’s memory can be made to St. Jude Children’s Hospital, as this touched his heart in a special way.

Loved ones are welcome to remember Grant on Friday, April 4th from 5-8 pm at the RJ Funeral Home in Norwich, NY. Funeral services will be held at the funeral home on Saturday, April 5th at 11 am with committal following at Maplewood Cemetery in Mt. Upton, NY.

The family would like to extend their appreciation to Loretta Donnelly who assisted Kathy in caring for Grant in their home over the past year and to the staff at the Norwich Rehabilitation Center for the compassion, respect and care they provided to Grant and his family during his last three weeks with us.