Lester Grimes, Jr.
December 10, 1932 ~ May 30, 2021
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Lester Grimes, Jr., of Andover, peacefully went to be with his Creator and Lord on Sunday, May 30, 2021.
He was born in Thomasville, NC on December 10, 1932, to Lester and Mary Lowe Grimes, both of whom preceded him in death. Les attended Beulah High School where he was on the championship basketball team and graduated in 1951. He then joined the US Air Force and was stationed in Korea during the Korean War. Upon leaving the service, he attended Appalachian State University on a baseball scholarship. He graduated with a degree in business and later went on to complete his master’s degree. Les continued to play ball until he was 79 years old. He lived with his family in Winston-Salem, NC until moving to Wichita, KS in 2015.
Surviving Les are his wife, Nancy; daughter, Toni (Don) Roberts; son, Joe (Lynda) Grimes; grandchildren, Chase (Caroline) Livengood, Allen (Kara) Grimes, Taylor (Derek) Dixon. He was blessed with 4 great-grandchildren, Brady, Kinley, Maya, and Macy. Memorial Service will be at 11:00 am, Thursday, June 10, 2021, at Metro East Baptist Church. To celebrate his life the family requests donations be directed to Metro East Baptist Church - Prayer Warriors Fund, 333 N. 143rd St. E., Wichita, KS 67230. The family wishes to thank Dr. Seth Page and the Wichita VA Oncology teams, as well as Phoenix Hospice teams for their support during Les’ MDS blood cancer journey.
Services in care of Downing & Lahey Mortuary - East Chapel.
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Wow, Mr. Grimes changed my life….You meet people in life that God graces us with their presence and Mr. Grimes was one of them. He was an angel and he had such insight into our needs such as God’s angels on earth should. We loved him and I am so very grateful for the couple of years that I knew him. Thankful to his beautiful family for sharing your dad, husband with us. I am a better person for meeting him.
Remembering a wonderful Christian friend and his family at this time. God bless you! Dale Folsom
So sorry to hear of your loss. He was a fine man. Price Davis
As we honor and celebrate those who have given their lives in service to our country, I also wanted to take a moment to remember a man who passed away yesterday. He served in the Air Force in the 50s, stationed in Korea during the Korean War – so he deserves our honor and thanks as a Veteran. However, I also want to recognize him for a different reason: He was a teacher. When I moved from the Mid-West to the South, and started 6th grade in a new school, new city, new everything, he was my teacher. I was shy, and bookish, and I talked “funny” not being from the South, and I didn’t know anyone. He made me feel welcome, and instead of sympathy he gave encouragement – he challenged me to be the best I could be. I was fortunate enough to reconnect with him a few months ago, and so I was able to tell him in person that he had made a difference in my life. His name was Lester Grimes. He was a good man, and he will be missed.
The Grimes family was so special in my childhood at South Fork Baptist Church, God bless you all!
I am sorry to learn of Les passing away bur rejoicing that he has reached his much deserved reward of now being with the Lord in his heavenly home. I am so very blessed to have known Les throughout all these years and to have him as a friend, co-worker and brother in Christ. I know he has touched the lives of many people and will be greatly missed. My prayers are with the family. Rodney
Nan, Toni, and Buzz I just wanted to say how very sorry I am for your loss Punk (as I have always known him to be) was a good Christian man full of love and kindness towards his family and his fellow man I pray that God will give you peace in knowing that Punk is in his Heavenly Home with all those that have gone before him I will keep you in my prayers I love you
Rest Lester, until you hear at dawn, the low, clear reveille of God. Thank you for your service to this nation. U.S. Air Force, Korean War.
Les was like family to me. I had his wife Nan as a teacher in elementary school and after that Les and Nan became close friends of my parents. I worked for him doing home improvements for several years during the 80’s and 90’s. We had many discussions while working about each of our relationships with the Lord. Those are memories I’ll hold close to my heart forever. Rest well Les. I’ll see you on the other side. My thoughts and prayers go out to the family. Sincerely, Rob Waring
Nan, Toni, and Chase … I am very sorry to read of the death of Les. I always thought he was a good leader at Calvary. May you always treasure fond memories of Les and may the Lord bless and comfort you … Shirley Thorne, Chase’s 3-4 yr old Sunday School & Mission Friends teacher at Calvary Baptist
I Cant think of my childhood in Winston-Salem without thinking of Les, Nan and family. I have nothing but fond memories of lots of laughter and good times on Bower lane. Ben Waring Charlottesville Va
Oh, “Punk”, how can I even start to tell what you have meant to me all my life, at least as long as I can remember. I have loved you since I was old enough to know you. You have been such a large part of my learning about God and Jesus. You taught me how to throw a rock, and a baseball. You taught me how to swing a ball bat, and to always keep my eye on the ball. You taught me how to skip a stone across a lake, and so many more things. I always told mama and daddy that when I grew up I was going to “marry Punk!” I thank God that I was blessed to have you in my life. You were more like a brother to me than a cousin. I will forever miss you, but thank God I will get to see you in Heaven. So fly high, and go rest high on the mountain. I’ll see you again some day!!!!
Lester loved God his church his wife snd his children. He was the olsweetest person Ive ever known. He will be sorely missed