Donald Eugene Grimm's Obituary
Donald Eugene Grimm passed away peacefully May 22, 2026, surrounded by his loving family. He was born as Donald Eugene Murphy on February 23, 1930, in Charleston, West Virginia, to Eugene William (Bill) and Cynthia Cummings Murphy. His early childhood was spent in Charleston, West Virginia, Buffalo, New York, and Akron, Ohio. At the age of eleven, he and his older sister, Janice, were adopted by George and Rhea Grimm of Greenbelt, Maryland. Before returning to Greenbelt, the Grimms visited their best friends in Cleveland, Ohio, Dan and Dorothy Hassink, and their three children - the youngest was Ruth, also age 11. Soon after his adoption, the Grimms gave Don his first Bible, which he read through, and he accepted Christ as his Savior. Don graduated from Greenbelt High School in June 1946, at the age of 16, and enrolled at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, MD. During his teenage years, Don had begun courting Ruth Hassink long-distance, and their love blossomed. They married at age 19 on December 29, 1949, in Ohio. After his senior year at Hopkins, Don began to work for the US government in 1951, serving as a civilian in the Department of Commerce, the Bureau of Budget, and with the Office of Secretary of Defense at the Pentagon. During this time, they moved to northern Virginia, started their family, and were active in a new church plant, Cherrydale Bible Chapel, in Arlington, VA. In 1962, Don accepted a position with Grace Line in New York City, and the family moved to Short Hills, New Jersey. In 1968, Don began work for W.R. Grace, where he climbed the corporate ladder. During this time, Don was active in leadership at Maplewood Gospel Chapel for thirteen years. In 1975, W.R. Grace transferred Don and his family to Dallas, Texas, where he eventually led the Natural Resources division. In 1986, Don formed and became president of Grace Energy Corporation until his retirement in 1993. In 1975, Don and Ruth attended Believers Chapel in Dallas, then helped establish Community Bible Chapel in Richardson in 1976. He served as an elder at CBC for many years. In addition, he used his gifts by serving on the Boards of Trinity Christian Academy (Addison, TX), Luis Palau Evangelistic Association (Portland, OR), and the MEC Board. . Don and Ruth especially loved spending time at Cattail Cottage at Holly Lake Ranch in East Texas, and sharing it with others. One of their greatest joys was spending time with their four daughters and their families, and gathering the whole family for special vacations. Donald was preceded in death by his wife of 63 years, Ruth A. Grimm. He is survived by his four daughters, Beverly Grimm Burch (John); Patricia Grimm Baker (Gary); Carol Grimm McColl (Angus); Rebecca Grimm Novakovich (Stephen); and ten grandchildren, Karen Joy Burch, Anna FuHuan Burch, Travis Jonathan Baker (Kristin), Lindsay Grace Baker Romano (Brian), Bethany Joy Floch Kim (Jonathan), Robin Michelle Floch Turner (Sam), Emily Caroline Floch Bryson (Barrett), Michael Donald Novakovich (Shelby), John Stephen Novakovich, and Katherine Grace Novakovich Collett (Sam); and eight great-grandchildren, Daniel Sung Yung Kim, David George Turner, Stephen Robert Novakovich, James Kendrick Turner, Peter Michael Novakovich, Caroline Glad Turner, Elliot Taylor Romano, and Ella Ruth Novakovich. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Benevolence Fund of Community Bible Chapel (Richardson, TX) or the Student Tuition Aid fund of Trinity Christian Academy (Addison, TX).
Please contact the family for service information.
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