BANGOR and BUCKSPORT – Donald H. Grindle, 88, died Wednesday, April 20, 2011, at Maine Veterans Home, Bangor. He was born Feb. 26, 1923, the son of William and Mary (Leach) Grindle.
He was a veteran of the U.S. Army Air Corps and served as pilot of a B-24 Liberator in the Pacific during World War II. After the war he came home to Bucksport, where he and his brother, Alton, ran Bucksport I.G.A. After that he was a rural mail carrier for many years until his retirement in 1984. Donald was very much a family man. He was an avid Red Sox fan, but an even more devoted fan of his son’s and grandchildren’s sports teams. He and his wife, Melva, spent many years and drove many miles attending every one of their sports events.
He will be sadly missed by his wife of 63 years, Melva (Brawn) Grindle, who resides at Boyd Place, Bangor. He is also survived by one daughter, Peggy Smith and her husband, Ben, of Old Town; one son, Steven Grindle and his wife, Maria, of Essex Junction, Vt.; his grandchildren, Tracey Mahoney and her husband, John, of Hampden, Shannon Horton and her husband, Danson, of Trenton, Trina Collins and her husband, Justin, of Winterport, Jessica Tharp and her husband, Robert, of Ridgecrest, Calif., and Ryan Grindle and Emma Grindle of Essex Junction, Vt.; his great-grandchildren, Ashley and Alex Mahoney, Adria and Zoe Horton, and Evelyn Collins; many nieces and nephews, especially Robert Grindle, Jean Carville and Norma Patterson. In addition to his parents, Donald was predeceased by his brother, Alton Grindle; and his sister, Lovina Chase.
A memorial service will be held 2 p.m. Friday, April 29, at Mitchell-Tweedie Funeral Home, 28 Elm St., Bucksport, with the Rev. Linda Smith officiating. Interment will be at Silver Lake Cemetery, Bucksport, after the service. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in Donald’s memory may be made to Maine Veterans Home Activity Fund, 44 Hogan Road, Bangor, ME 044001 or Buck Memorial Library, P.O. Box DD, Bucksport, ME 04416.