Curly Grondin

Curly Grondin, age 93, of Grants Pass, died Wednesday, June 3, 2009 at Royale Gardens Health & Rehabilitation Center.

A memorial service will be at 3:00 p.m., Wednesday, June 10, 2009 at Hull & Hull Chapel with Pastor Russ Millsaps officiating. Hull & Hull Funeral Directors are in charge of arrangements.

Milton 'Curly' Valentine Grondin was born February 14, 1916 in Lorain, Ohio to Milton Bernard & Anna Marie Grondin. He graduated from Lorain High School. For three years he was a machine operator, iron worker and pipe fitter apprentice. He served in the United States Merchant Marines for five years as an abled body seaman and sailed across the Great Lakes. From March 20, 1942 to January 6, 1946 he served in the United States Air Force where he spent six months in the Flying Cadet Program, six months as Assistant Supply Sergeant and three years overseas in the Philippine Islands as an Bombsite Automatic Pilot Mechanic. For five years he worked for the United States Postal Service in Muskegon, . He worked at Norton AFB as post master for 22 years. He later worked for Norton Battery Company in Rialto, California for 10 years.
In July 19, 1943 he married Irma Ruth Brown in Denver Colorado. She was the love of his life, they were married for 58 years until her death . They moved moved from Rialto to Grants Pass in 1991.

His hobbies included flying where he frequently went to the Cave Junction Airport to fly on light aircraft. He also enjoyed fishing, going to the ocean and seeing the lighthouses, Whiile in the Phillippeans He enjoyed sailing on his sail boat the 'Irma Jan' He also enjoyed air shows and making wooden toys.

Survivors include a daughter, Janice Hildebrand of Witchita Falls, Texas; two sons, Dennis 'Bubba' Grondin of Grants Pass and Steven 'Grog' Grondin of Williams; two sisters, Della Barcyzk of Lorain, Ohio and Doris Mahilo of Ridgeville Ohio, six grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Irma Ruth Grondin, September 12, 2001.