George W. Grider

DANVILLE GRIDER, GEORGE W., 93, died Sunday, February 3, 2008 in Albany, KY. Born August 20, 1914 in Albany, KY, he was the son of the late Orestes and Sally Parrigin Grider. A graduate of Monticello High School, he attended Morehead University and graduated in 1940 from the University of Kentucky College of Pharmacy. George served in the U.S. Navy during World War II as a Lt. (JG) aboard the USS Samuel Miles and participated with the United Pacific Fleet in the final assault of Okinawa being entitled to eight service stars and on April 11, 1945 was awarded the Navy Commendation Ribbon "for meritorious service as gunnery control officer." Following the war, George resumed his practice of pharmacy in Danville evolving to Grider Pharmacy on Main Street. He authored with Sylvia Wrobel "Isaac Shelby, Kentucky's First Governor" and received the 1973 Virginia Highlands Award in Historical Writing. His interest in history brought George to memberships in the Boyle County Historical Society, The Kentucky Heritage Commission, Friends of Shakertown, the Pharmacy Restoration at Perryville and his true legacy and lifetime vision, curator of the McDowell House and Apothecary Shop in Danville. From 1955 to 1959 he was responsible for the restoration of the apothecary shop at Ephraim McDowell House. In his chosen profession, George was called upon to be a board member by the Kentucky Board of Pharmacy, the Kentucky Council on Pharmaceutical Education, The College of Pharmacy Development Council, the National Board of Pharmacy, and the American Institute of the History of Pharmacy. He served as President of the Kentucky Board of Pharmacy in 1959 and 1963 ; of the American Institute of the History of Pharmacy in 1964 - 65; of the American Pharmaceutical Association in 1967-68; of the Bluegrass Pharmaceutical Association in 1970-71 and as Chairman of the Section of Professional Pharmacy of the Pan-American Federation of Pharmacy from 1969-73. He presented several papers before the Pan-American Congress of Pharmacy and Biochemistry and the International Federation of Pharmacy. He was named Pharmacist of the Year in 1957 and 1967 by the Kentucky Council on Pharmaceutical Education. In 1970 he received the Commendation Award from the American Institute of the History of Pharmacy and in 1971 the Distinguished Kentuckian in Pharmacy Award from the University of Kentucky College of Pharmacy. George was a member and past chairman of the board of the First Christian Church in Danville and had served as the President of the Board of Directors of the Christian Church Children's campus from 1980 to1988. He was the widower of Nell Rankin Oatts Grider, and was predeceased by a brother, Gentry Grider and a sister, Wilma Grider. He is survived by a sister, Agnes Grider Chestnut of Louisville; a sister-in-law, Dorothy Grider of Louisville; nieces and nephews and Nell's nephew, Tommy (Marguerite) Bertram of Albany. The funeral service will be 2 p.m. Wednesday at First Christian Church with visitation from 11 a.m. - 2 p.m. prior to the service. Rev. Jerry Shepard will officiate, Pallbearers will be Alvin Grider, Bill Beavin, Theodore Grider, Bob Williams, Bob Reister, Julian Mitchell, G.D. Hieronymous, Steve Peddicord, Tony Boils and Michael Peddicord. Stith Funeral Home, Danville is in charge of arrangements. The family requests that expressions of sympathy be sent to the Danville First Christian Church or McDowell House and Apothecary Shop.