John E. Granville

John E. Granville, 58, of Selma died Thursday, April 26, 2007 at Three Rivers Community Hospital.

Funeral Services will be Friday, May 4, 2007 at 10:30 A.M. at Bridgeview Community Church. Interment will follow at 3:00 P.M., with Military Honors provided by the Marine Corps League, at Eagle Point National Cemetery. Illinois Valley Funeral Directors are in charge of the arrangement.

He was born on January 7, 1949 in Los Angeles, California to Joseph A. and Margie L. (Cummings) Granville. He graduated from Hart High School in Newhall, California in 1967. He enlisted in the US Marine Corps on September 5, 1967 and was discharged on December 31, 1968, when an exploding mine claimed both legs above the knee. After his near death experience he became a strong Christian, and vowed to live his life for the Lord.

In 1969 he married Rebecca “Becky” Pluim and they later divorced. He moved from California in the 1970’s to Selma, with his father. On May 13, 1978 he married the former Christina Marie Groshong, who survives.

During high school he took night classes with his dad for Welding and Machine Technology, and they worked together when they first moved to Oregon. He also studied transmission rebuilding, and had worked for years out of his home rebuilding transmissions. In 1991 his children John Joseph and JoAnna started Judo, and he became interested. After a few months the instructors invited him on the mat for practice and he was addicted. He worked his way up to 3rd degree black belt, and taught Judo at the Selma Community Center, and Wayne Owen Fighting Arts.

He enjoyed gold mining, and dredging. He did scuba diving under the dredge in the Illinois River to see what was going on. He also loved archery, model planes, and other Martial Arts. He was deeply involved with the Marine Corp League, and loved spending time with the Devil pups, the Marine Corps League for kids. He was also really active in his church.

Having lost both his legs in Vietnam, he was recognized for walking with short legs and backwards shoes for balance. He won many awards including The Gold Award, signed by the commandant of the Marine Corps, in Washington D.C.

In addition to his wife Chris Granville of Selma; survivors include his son, Corporal John Joesph Granville, USMC stationed in Okinawa, Japan; his four daughters, Stacey Seal and Sheila Reed, both of Portland; JoAnna Gavlik and Marcie Granville, both of Selma; his sister Judy Flores of Cave Junction; and seven grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his grandson, Alex.