Obituary: William E. Grinnell

The following is from Joyce Funeral Home.

Mr. William E. Grinnell, of Waltham, died on Thursday, March 13, 2014 at home surrounded by his family. He was 79.

Bill was born in Boston on Nov. 30, 1934, the son of the late William and Thelma (McCrink) Grinnell. He grew up in Newton, graduated from Newton High School and attended Bentley College and Northeastern University, both in Boston.

He joined the U.S. Marine Corps and served his country during the Korean Conflict. Until his retirement he had worked as a bookkeeper at Harnish, Jenney, Mitchell & Resh in Waltham.

On Aug. 20, 1960, he married Evelyn J. Formalarie at St. Bernard's Church in West Newton, the couple settled in Waltham and spent 53 happy years together. Bill had a great sense of humor and loved the simple things in life: lunch at Friendly's, a nice wrist watch, traveling, but most importantly, his family. He loved to share meals at the Crystal Palace in Disney and would head to the Cape or White Mountains whenever possible. He was a proud Marine, a great husband and a loving father, grandfather and uncle. He was a huge sports fan and his team was the New York Giants.

Besides his beloved wife, Evelyn, he leaves his children, W. Neal Grinnell and his wife, Kathleen, of Waltham, Kevin J. Grinnell and his wife, Catherine, of Randolph, Thomas M. Grinnell and his wife, Elizabeth, of Framingham and Christopher J. Grinnell and his wife, Tammy, of Marlborough; his grandchildren, Shaun, Kevin, Christopher, Catherine, Ellen, Michael, Maxwell and Harrison Grinnell; his sister, Kathryn Leitner, of Florida; his brothers and sisters-in-law, David Formalarie and his wife, Judy, of New Jersey and Kenneth Formalarie and his wife, Melody, of North Carolina and many nieces and nephews.

Bill was also the father of the late Diane M. Grinnell.

Family and friends will honor and remember Bill's life by gathering for calling hours in The Joyce Funeral Home, 245 Main St. (Route 20), Waltham, on Monday, March 17, from 4-8 p.m. and again at 9 a.m. on Tuesday morning before leaving in procession to Saint Mary's Church, 133 School St., Waltham, where his funeral mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Burial will follow in Newton Cemetery.

Memorial donations may be made to The Prostate Cancer Foundation, 1250 4th St., Santa Monica, CA 90401.