The Life of George William Grim
George W. Grim, age 93, succumbed to complications resulting from COVID-19 on May 6, 2020 in Novi, MI. He was born George William to George and Audrey Grim on June 15, 1926 in Lancaster,PA. Raised by his paternal grandparents, Jerimiah and Anna Grim, George attended JP McCaskeyHigh School. He played football for a season and baseball for two seasons in Lancaster’s AmericanLegion League. He graduated in 1944 and that summer met his future wife, Mary ElizabethCordsen, in Stone Harbor, NJ. He then enlisted in the Army Air Corps Cadet program during WWIIand was dispatched to Gunter Air Force Base near Montgomery, Ala. After being honorably discharged, George enrolled in the Art School for Interior Design at Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, NY.In August of 1950, he married Mary at Calvary Lutheran Church in Havertown, PA. He graduated from Pratt the following year. George and Mary settled in their first home together in Drexel Hill,PA. where they welcomed their first two sons, George and Robert. Pursuing a keen interest inarchitecture, George was hired by Vincent G. Kling in 1952. He was promoted throughout his 20year tenure with the firm managing several notable projects in several states. Chasing hisarchitectural dreams even further, George designed and built the family’s next home in 1961, acontemporary design on a wooded site in Havertown, PA. This home remains a family projectlovingly pursued, but not yet quite completed even to this day. Here, George and Mary grew theirfamily with the arrival of Peter, Thomas and Alison. In 1972 he established his own architecture andinterior design practice, George W. Grim & Associates, in Ardmore, PA. George retired in 1996 andlived in the family home until moving in 2019 to be near his son in Novi, MI.Throughout his life, George loved baseball, playing throughout his early life and listening to gameswhile seemingly forever painting the house. Having been exposed to flying in the Army Air Corps,dad enjoyed flying for several decades taking anyone who would agree up for a flight around thelocal area. Many of his summers were spent on the Jersey shore where he surf-fished for hours onend. His love of fishing led to a decade’s long desire for ever larger boats that allowed him and Mary,forever his first mate, to go after blues and tuna miles off the coast. George’s eye for architectureand design grew into a gift for film photography being elected President of the Delaware CountyCamera Club. He focused his talents mostly on compositions found in nature, whether it be flowersnear Ithan Creek or polar bears in Churchill, Manitoba. George remained a devout, life-longLutheran serving his Church as usher, treasurer, congregation President and engaged parishioner.He also served as President of the local civic association in which he successfully guided the growthand protected the natural beauty of the local neighborhood. He is survived by his sons George S. II (Yukina), with his son Taizo, Robert C. (Denise Elizabeth),with his children Andrew (Rachel), Rebecca, Rob and granddaughter Cordsen, Peter C. (Denise),Thomas R. with his children Emma and Grace, and his daughter, Alison G. Smith (Jeffrey), with herchildren Ryan and Anna. George loved his wife, Mary, and relied on her as his rock and strength. Hewas immensely proud of his children, grandchildren and great grandchildren, their diverse pathstaken through life and their many achievements, pursuits and accomplishments. We will all miss himand love him remembering him as a great father, strong Christian and wonderful man.
Regrettably, visitors may not attend due to restrictions due to COVID-19. In lieu of flowers, gifts may be donated to St. John Lutheran Church in Springfield, PA. and memorial donations may besent in George’s name to the Nature Conservancy.