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Submitted: 10/31/21 • Approved: 10/31/21 • Last Updated: 11/3/21 • R466055-G0-S3
TECHNICAL FOURTH CLASS US Army
World War II
November 14, 1917-August 12, 2016
Purple Heart
Combat Infantry Badge
*Photo, courtesy of Robert L. Jones
*Information, courtesy of Edith Guynes Stanley
*Obituary
WHEELER — Funeral services for Mr. Francis Marion Grimes are scheduled for 10:00 AM, Monday, August 15, 2016 at the First Baptist Church, Mobeetie, Texas, with Bro. Aaron Laverty and Pastor Ty Williams, officiating. Burial will follow in the Wheeler Cemetery under the direction of Peppers Family Funeral Home of Wheeler, Texas.
Marion Grimes was born November 14, 1917 in Montague County Texas, to James Sterling Grimes and Cora Roane Grimes. He was the fourth child in a family of nine children.
He grew up in Montague County, Texas and Hollis, Oklahoma. He joined the Civilian Conservation Corps in October 1936 at Memphis, Texas spending over two years planting shelter belts in Texas and fighting forest fires in California. In the CCC the employee earned $30.00 per month. F.M. kept $5.00 and $25.00 was sent home to his family. This contribution helped his two younger brothers finish high school.
On February 26, 1940 he enlisted in the United States Army at Fort Bliss Texas. He was stationed at Ft. Lewis Washington when Pearl Harbor was attacked. F.M. accepted Jesus as his Savior while at Ft. Lewis.
He was deployed by troop transport from Norfolk Virginia on October 24, 1942. They landed on the beach of French Morocco near Fedelia and Casablanca.
His 3rd Infantry Division marched through Morocco, Algeria, and Tunisia in North Africa, then to Sicily, Italy, France and Germany ending his time overseas at Berchtesgaden Germany.
While in Italy, F.M. was in the 4-month long battle on Anzio beach from January 22 to May 22, 1944. He was wounded on Anzio beach and received the Purple Heart. For his service he also received the Combat Infantry Badge, European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal, American Defense Service Medal, and the Good Conduct Medal.
F.M. returned to the states and was discharged June 9, 1945 at Fort Sam Houston, Texas. He often said "I spent 5 years, 3 months, and 14 days in the Army".
He spent 6 years in Wisconsin working for the Soil Conservation Service and as a surveyor. He was also a member of a western music group called the "Sons of the Soil".
He returned to Texas where he married Ethel Renner on August 13, 1951.
F.M. was a farmer and rancher, an avid guitar player, a past member of Gideons International, and a member of the First Baptist Church of Mobeetie.
F.M. is survived by his wife Ethel of the home, one daughter Elizabeth McDowell and husband Pat of Shamrock Texas, two granddaughters, Katie Hathaway and husband Wes of Canadian Texas, and Savanna Jahnel and husband Kyle of Wheeler Texas, two great-grandchildren Logan Hathaway and Sidney Hathaway, one brother Kenneth Grimes of Wichita Falls Texas, and numerous nieces and nephews.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to Wheeler Historical Museum, 105 N. Alan Bean Blvd, Wheeler Texas 79096.
(Published in Amarillo Globe-News, Aug. 14, 2016)
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Texas, Birth Certificates, 1903-1932
Name: Grimes
Birth Date: 13 Nov 1917
Gender: Male
Birth Place: Sunset, Montague, Texas, USA
Father: James Grimes
Mother: Cora Rhoon
Mother Residence: Sunset
Please see Francis Marion “F.M.” Grimes
Contributed on 10/31/21
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Record #: 466055