Thomas Estil Grider, 91, died Friday evening, April 4, 2008, in a Chattanooga hospital.
The son of the late Charlie Eli and Emily Ethel Rorex Grider, he was a retired employee of Crane Co. in Chattanooga, a member of Olive Branch Lodge 297 F&AM and a 32nd-degree Scottish Rite Mason. An Army veteran of World War II, he had served in the 2nd Armored Division in Africa, Sicily, England, France, Belgium, Holland and Germany. He was a member of the VFW, the American Legion and the Disabled American Veterans.
Mr. Grider was preceded in death by his wife, Ann Goff Grider.He is survived by a son, Tommy (Kay) Grider, of Cookeville, Tn.; a grandson, Jason Grider, of Lexington, Ky.; two great-grandchildren, Caleb and Maddy Grider, of Cookeville; a sister, Charlsie (Melvin) Turner, of Jasper; a brother, Roy Grider, of East Ridge; and several nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. CDT on Monday, held at the Jasper Chapel of Rogers Funeral Home with the Rev. David Clay officiating. Interment will be in Sequatchie Valley Memorial Gardens.
The family will gather with friends from 4-7 p.m. CDT on Sunday at the funeral home with a Masonic service to be held at 7 p.m. CDT.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial donations be made to the Tennessee Baptist Children's Home, c/o First Baptist Church in Jasper.