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Denny Graham GRINDALL (1915 ~ 2009) Born and raised in Seattle, Denny grew up in the Green Lake area not content to spend his time with books and school, but majored in creative and ingenious building projects consisting of boats (airplane propeller driven and sail), animal stalls, etc. He being much loved by his grandparents (Seattle pioneers John & Mary Denny, hence his namesake) would more than once walk home from their homestead with a rooster or some other animal given to him by his grandma, much to his mother's chagrin. Attending Roosevelt High School and some WSU he eventually owned and operated a feed & pet store on Greenwood Avenue which morphed into greenhouses and flower shop at 88th & Aurora. The Shop was probably best known for its landmark elephant and "Big Elephant Geraniums". Denny met his sweetheart & wife of 68 years, Jeanne, on the Indianola dock near his family summer home on Miller Bay (Suquamish), and after many romantic campfires, day sails, and other adventures, they married in August 1940. Their 3 children (Paul, Jacquelyn, and Stephen) can recount many an adventure as a family with Denny (Dad) the leader with vision. One of the most memorable trips was in 1956 our trip up to the end of Knight Inlet in a 19 ft boat; camping on a glacier; and sleeping under a lean-to in the middle of grizzly bear country. The big elephant on Aurora must have had its influence, as Denny & Jeanne, not content to live a life of self indulgence, stepped out in their retirement years and spent 20 years working with the Maasai people in Kenya orchestrating self-help projects which included building earth filled dams and bringing water to their villages, building schools & churches, teaching them how to grow and prepare vegetables, and changing their housing arrangement so their health could be improved. Their Christian love for the Maasai was in concert with God's plan for salvation of this people group and their work continues to this day. Denny truly followed Jesus and was an inspiration to those he knew and loved on earth. We will of course miss him, but look forward to our future heavenly reunion. His memorial service will be August 22 at 1:30pm at the King's Chapel (Vivian Martin Center) Cristwood Campus, Shoreline. Memorials in Denny Grindall's honor can be sent to Kitsap Presbyterian Church, P.O. Box 750, Silverdale,WA 98383. Memo designation: SIMOO (Simba Maasai Outreach Organization).
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
2 Entries
To Denny's family,
I was Denny's barber for 15 years. We spent many hours chatting and I thoroughly enjoyed his company and the stories he shared with me. He gave me many gifts of plants over the years and they thrive in my garden. I'll be thinking of him as I work in my garden this afternoon.
Thank you Jackie, for the berries...Denny lives on.
Dorothy Benson
August 22, 2009
Dear Grindall Family,
My parents, Ken and Letha Dodson, thought so highly of your father.
They were married in your Great-Grandmother's home.
I know that Denny will be missed by many. Sincerely, Jeanie Dodson Unger
August 16, 2009
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