George Grinnell

1940 - 2017

George H. Grinnell

July 2, 1940 – October 15, 2017

George Grinnell passed away in the early morning hours of October 15, 2017, after a 20-year battle with kidney disease. George was born in Bronxville, New York and at a young age moved with his family to the suburbs of Baltimore, Maryland. He graduated from Baltimore Polytechnic Institute High School and then attended the University of Maryland in College Park, MD, majoring in English. His college time was interrupted by his service in the United States Army. He spent most of his tour of duty as an MP in Japan, where he continued his college classes with overseas branches of the University of Maryland. After his tour of duty in the Army he returned to College Park to complete his college degree and there met the love of his life, Bettie. They married on June 22, 1968, and moved to San Francisco.

After working briefly for Ryerson Steel and several years at Dunn & Bradstreet, George spent 30 years with San Mateo County Government as a real estate appraiser, first in residential appraisal and then commercial appraisal. He retired in January 2004.

George's hobbies included wood carving and working with tools. Once he became a father he became an avid boater and enjoyed exploring the many lakes in California with his wife and children. Camping and swimming were favorite weekend and summer activities, a relief from foggy San Francisco summers.

As a devoted husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle and great uncle, he will be deeply missed and cherished with loving memories by his wife Bettie Grinnell, his son Kevin Grinnell, his daughter Kristi Schumaker and his son-in-law Skye Schumaker, his granddaughters, Jazmyn Schumaker and Juniper Schumaker, his sister Marsha Chase, his nephew Jason Myatt, and his wife Kim Myatt, and his great-nephews, Henry Myatt and Paul Myatt.

George did not want a service. At his wishes he was cremated and the family will celebrate his life in private this summer in Lake Tahoe. Everyone who knew George, family, friends and business associates always enjoyed his friendly, gentle and caring demeanor. He will be missed by everyone who knew him, and he will live in all our memories.