Thomas Paul Grimball

Thomas Paul Grimball, Jr. of Gulfport, MS passed away October 4, 2017 at the age of 99. Tom was born June 23, 1918 on Johns Island, South Carolina to Thomas Paul, Sr. & Anna Guilds Grimball. He graduated from Clemson A&M (Clemson University) in 1940 with a BS in Civil Engineering. He lettered at Clemson as the baseball team manager, participated in ROTC, and was an IPTAY life donor. Tom served during World War II in the Asiatic-Pacific Theatre as an Infantry Unit Commander. He was wounded in combat and awarded the Purple Heart, 2 Bronze Stars and other combat service medals. He retired from the Corps of Engineers, Army Reserves, as a Lt. Colonel. After the war, Tom joined Winn Dixie in Jacksonville, FL as Director of Engineering, retiring in 1985. Tom is preceded in death by his parents, 3 siblings and oldest son, Thomas P. Grimball, III. He is survived by his daughter, Abbey Grimball Wiggins, Charleston, SC; his son Raymond J. Guilds (Elyse) Grimball, Gulfport, MS; 4 grandchildren; 5 great grandchildren; and 2 great, great grandchildren. A Celebration of Life will be held on Sunday, October 15, 2017, 3 pm, with a family greeting, 2 pm, at St. Peter's by-the-Sea Episcopal Church in Gulfport, MS. A graveside memorial with military honors will be held on Veterans Day, November 11, 2017, 2 pm, at Live Oak Memorial Gardens, Charleston, SC. Bradford-O’Keefe Funeral Home, O’Neal Road, Gulfport is in charge of arrangements. View and sign register book at www.bradfordokeefe.com