GRIMES, P. Ray (1932-2016)

GRIMES

Posted By: Karon Velau (email)
Date: 6/2/2017 at 11:56:38

Pearl Ray Grimes
(October 31, 1932 - November 2, 2016)

Services for P. Ray Grimes, 84, of Indianola, IA who passed peacefully Nov. 2, 2016, at The Village in Indianola, will be held at 11 a.m., Saturday, Nov. 5, at the First United Methodist Church in Indianola. Graveside services and interment will be held at 1:30 p.m., Sunday, Nov. 6, in the Stearns Cemetery in Fithian, IL. Ray was born Oct. 31, 1932, in Covington, IN, a son of Harold ‘Bill’ Grimes and Margaret Mae Dalbey. He married Naomi Ruth Long on Aug. 31, 1952, in Fithian, IL.
Mr. Grimes was a 3rd class petty officer on a United States Navy aircraft carrier during the Korean Conflict; private pilot for Sheaffer Pen, American Republic Insurance Co. and Interstate Power; member of Masonic Lodge 32nd Degree; Quiet Birdmen; NBAA Board of Directors; A.O.P.A.; and awarded the Million Mile Diamond Safety Award. Amongst notarized passengers were: Hubert S. Humphrey, Gen. Jimmie Doolittle, Jack Benny, Cliff Robertson, Alexander Caulder, governors, athletes and many more. Lifelong sprint car enthusiast as a driver, mechanic, owner and director/promoter of racing at Knoxville Raceway. Inductee to the Knoxville Hall of Fame and awarded the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame Heritage Award. In addition, Ray worked with many race tracks across the country to assist in “Winning Friends and Influencing Racing.” Dancing was a favorite past time.
Survivors include his wife of 64 years, Naomi; two daughters and sons-in-law, Teri (Jim) Riggins of Lincoln, NE, Linda (Rod) Selvage of Indianola; one brother, Larry Grimes of Cleveland, TN; one sister, Sandra Millikin of O’Fallon, IL; five grandchildren, Brenda Riggings, Amy Selvage-Heimbaugh, Jeremy Selvage, Dustin Selvage, Brooke Selvage; nine great-grandchildren, Joshua Riggins, Victoria Bayer, Marc Johnson, Sampson Bayer, Ashley Selvage, Dakota Heimbaugh, Daxton Heimbaugh, Mya Selvage, Colby Selvage; and one great-great-grandchild, Jemma Riggins. He was preceded in death by one granddaughter Jamie Riggins-Bayer.
Visitation will be held from 4 to 6 p.m., Friday, Nov. 4, at Overton Funeral Home in Indianola with family present. In lieu of flowers, memorials to National Sprint Car Hall of Fame and Museum, Knoxville, IA. This memorial is provided by Overton Funeral Home, 501 West Ashland Ave., Indianola, Iowa, [http://www.overtonfuneral.com/]