Harry Morris Grimball

Harry Morris Grimball Jr., 95, of Charleston, SC, stepped quietly through Heaven's door to spend Eternal life with his Lord on August 17, 2015. The relatives and friends of Harry Morris Grimball Jr. are invited to attend his Funeral Service at 1:00 PM Friday, August 21, 2015 at the James A. McAlister Chapel, 1620 Savannah Highway, Charleston. Interment with Military Honors will take place at a later date at Arlington National Cemetery. The family will receive friends at the funeral home one hour prior to the service. A native of Charleston, Harry was born June 12, 1920, son of Marguerite Leonard and Harry Morris Grimball Sr. He enlisted in the US Army on August 11, 1941, shortly after graduation from high school in Sanford, FL. In August, 1943, he joined the Army Air Force upon graduation from the AAF Bombardier School in Big Springs, TX. In November, 1943, Harry was sent overseas to serve with the 8th Air Force 1st Division 381st Bombardment Group, 525th Squadron. On December 31, 1943, on his 3rd mission, his plane was badly damaged by enemy fire. Seriously injured, he and the rest of the crew were forced to bail out over France. He was captured and taken to a German Air Force hospital in Clichy, near Paris, where he remained hospitalized for five months. In June of 1944 he was shipped by cattle car to Sagan, Germany, where he was held in the south compound of the infamous prison camp Stalag Luft III. He remained imprisoned until January 1945, when the Red Cross cleared the way for his repatriation. Harry never met a stranger, and his smile and laughter could light up a room. He enjoyed the outdoors, hunting, fishing, playing tennis, and golf. Harry's family has deep roots in the history of the United States; his ancestor, Lewis Morris, was a signor of the Declaration of Independence. Harry is survived by his fiancee, Florice Torrance, the love of his life, two daughters, Nan Gadsden Grimball Bryant (John) of Charleston & Elizabeth Trenholm Grimball Moyer (Bill) of Summerville, 1 son, Harry Morris Grimball III (Lisa) of Honolulu, HI, 10 grandchildren, 3 great-grandchildren, and several nieces and nephews. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his two sisters, Trenholm Allen Rumbough and Marguerite Gayle. Mr. Grimball's family wishes to extend their appreciation to the staff at NHC Healthcare and to Caris Healthcare Hospice. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made either to Caris Healthcare Hospice, 1064 Gardner Rd #313, Charleston, SC 29407, or to the Alzheimer's Association, 2090 Executive Hall Road, Ste. 130, Charleston, SC 29407.