William James Grubb (Jim)

Marion, KS

1941, 792, Roubaix, F-6,

Jim Grubb passed away peacefully Monday, Nov.5th, 2012, at the age of 90.

Born in 1922 in Marion, Ks, the 5th son of an itinerant preacher/miller and a homemaker, Jim and his sisters and brothers all worked to bring pennies into the household. His father died when Jimmy was four and his mother worked tirelessly to raise the eight siblings. His first job was at age 6, delivering the "Grit" newspaper. He soon earned more by playing rummy for the local tavern and splitting his winnings with the owner. The family spread out during the depression, Jim going to South Dakota with the Civilian Conservation Corps. In 1941 he joined the army and made it his career. He married Viola Louise Burris in 1947 in Carlsbad, NM.

He learned Farsi at the Army Language School in Monterey, CA and served three tours of duty in the Middle East: one in Ankara, Turkey and two in Teheran, Iran. The "Persian Knights", a group from these assignments maintained their friendships for many decades. Stateside assignments included teaching at military schools in Cheyenne WY and at the Wentworth Military Academy in Lexington, MO.

He earned the Good Conduct Medal, American Campaign Medal, and Victory Medal WWII. He loved to serve in groups and was a longtime Elk, Moose, Mason, Ararat Shriner and a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, and American Legion. He retired from the army as a Master Sargent in 1962 and was a business owner in Lexington, MO. He liked to hunt for geese, take the grandchildren fishing, raise a garden, feed the birds, and read. He was faithful in keeping up with family, friends, and classmates from his high school in Marion, KS. In 1994 he and Viola moved to Gulfport, MS to the Armed Forces Retirement Home and became members of the Mississippi United Methodist Church. They enjoyed the home and Jim was active in the Home's competitions and the Mississippi State Games in Jackson. In 2005, hurricane Katrina forced Jim and Vi to evacuate to the Armed Forces Home in Washington, D.C. Viola, his beloved wife of 61 years, passed away in 2008 and Jim moved to the Military Retirement Home in Temple, TX to be near his son, Bill. He was very much a "people person" and family and friends always commented on his cheerful whistling, ready smile, and friendliness.

He was deeply loved and will be sorely missed by his 5 children, Beverly Jensen, Mary Potzmann, Pamela Pyle, Deborah Smith, and William Grubb, Jr. ; 9 grandchildren, Donna Neal, Debbie Frey, Karl Potzmann, Emily LaVoy, Bill Pyle, Laura Boggs, Rachel Schrank, Anthony Holmes and Jennifer Voigt; and 10 great-grandchildren, Michael, Katie, Danielle, David, Christopher, Olivia, Evan, Ansel, Hayden, and Jaxon.

The funeral service was Friday, November 16, 2012 at 11:00 a.m. at the Armed Forces Retirement Home, Gulfport. Interment at Biloxi National Cemetery.

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