ForeverMissed
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His Life

From Jeannine Sanford

August 31, 2012

Eddie Grinder – From Your Loving Family

 

Where do I start to tell you about Eddie Grinder? The memories come flooding back as we think of you, love you, miss you. We all will miss you and love you forever. It is hard to understand how you were taken from us so suddenly. There is a void and ache in our hearts. As we mourn, we do celebrate your life and how full it was, and all the love that you gave to your family and friends.

Eddie the Boy

Let’s start in the beginning – 30 years ago. I was in college when I got a call one night that you were finally born. I remember my heart leaping for joy and I ran up and down the dorm hallway shouting that I was an aunt! You lived in Swissvale at the time. I remember your baptism and all of the grandparents. You were the fifth generation born on your mother’s side – keeping up a tradition that your maternal grandmother and aunt started!  Believe me, the grandparents all fell in love with you at first sight. Were you spoiled? Yes! You developed your independent streak at a young age, and you were walking before 9 months. We would watch Fraggle Rock on TV. Who can forget your first birthday party?  You had a Smurf theme going on. I remember Granny and I walked with you near your home.  I don’t remember how old you were but one day you wanted to be Superman, cape and everything. We caught you before you flew anywhere!  I remember your first room (My room, My Room, your dog Honey and playing basketball). You and Mommy also would come to visit me in Oil City.

When you were 3, you started your journey to Florida. How can we forget that trip?!  It took us longer to get there due to constant oil problems, running out of gas and ant hills! Gee, if you only knew how to work on cars then!

You first lived in the Keys. You adapted to the Florida life and entered school in Monroe County. Through the years, I would visit you, Mommy, Grandma and later the girls and Jeff, and you would also come up to PA on annual basis. All these years living in Florida, you never forgot your PA roots.

We really had good times when you came to visit. Granny and I would take turns spoiling you, along with your dad’s parents and your mom’s parents.  You became a fan of the Pittsburgh Steelers and Pirates. We went to ball games, fishing, visiting relatives, water parks, canoeing, roller skating, Laurel Caverns, Lake Erie. Remember the trip to Geauga Lake and Sea World?  How did we lose your swim trunks? Actually, I think you said Aunt Neen, how did YOU lose my swim trunks?! We never did find them!

You also hung out with Granny, Papa and Bonnie. Papa had a shop and would always be tinkering around, fixing things. I think that is where you first discovered those talents. He made a beautiful toy chest for you with your name engraved on it. You had a routine with Granny at bedtime and told Mommy that’s how Granny did it when you would return home. You would have fun visiting cousins on both sides of the family. There are many other memories from this period but I have to move on!

Eddie the Teenager

You would be quite the expert on everything when I came to visit (birds, snakes, outdoors, swimming, surfing, music, computers, cars, motorcycles, fishing, alligators!, hunting, fixing  everything and anything! I remember your very first car and how proud you were of it. I remember taking that picture. A Falcon, if I recall. You had a car just about every year (!) but I gave up counting after a while! You played baseball, football, went hunting and started working. I remember you in the ROTC program. And of course, who could forget your friends and girlfriends!

Eddie the Friend

I may not know all of your friends but I know that you were a good friend to many people, loyal and helping out in anyway you can. It was a testament to your memory by how many who attended the service.

Eddie the Brother

You first earned the title of brother about seven years of age when Jennifer was born on your dad’s side. On your mom’s side, did you think that you would get all of the attention!? No, of course not! Your sisters Alecia joined you when you were 12 and then Sharon, when you were 17. Did you ever think that you would get a brother? Jeff became part of the family and became my second nephew. You were the perfect brother for the girls and their biggest protector (in addition to Mom, of course). You inspected everything from boyfriends to Halloween candy. I know that you have a fierce love for them and would always be there no matter what. I know that you became a chauffeur for school activities, piano lessons and bowling. You checked on homework and asked about their days. They sure do miss you. Jeff put together a loving tribute to you on line.

Eddie the Nephew

Perhaps it’s not fair to take up a paragraph but I will anyways. I have shared so many memories of you. You know that I love you more so as a son, than nephew. In later adulthood, you were my phone and text buddy comparing notes on the Steelers. When I saw that training camp started, I started thinking of you and crying.  Very definitely, the 2010 Steeler-Miami game will always be a special memory to treasure always.   I will treasure YOU always.

Eddie the Son

What can I say? You were your mom’s firstborn and source of pride and joy. I think that you learned about cars so you could fix her vehicles over the years! You even worked on my cars too when I was down to visit. I know your Mom loves you so much, and not just for fixing the cars! You have been through a lot together, good and bad, happy and sad. But you were together and you were always the devoted son. Knowing her as I do, she will find a way to keep pressing onward but it won’t be the same without you here.

Eddie the Father

Your importance and love of family continued when you started a family of your own. It makes me think of the movie song, “Circle of Life” when Devon was born. You and Gayle created a beautiful son who is definitely a spitting image of you at that age. Together with Blake, you guys did all kinds of things together. Devon was Daddy’s little helper working on cars. I know he definitely misses and loves his daddy.

As a former journalist, I thought that words would come easily as I sat down to write this tribute. But it has taken me this long and more than one attempt to find the words to say. To those who read this, I hope that you get a picture of what Eddie was really like. Forgive me if you find any spelling or grammatical mistakes!

Eddie - you will be loved and treasured by all of us forever. Your presence will live on in our memories, stories, pictures, thoughts and definitely in the image of your son. There will be plenty of Eddie stories to share.

You’re with the Lord and the angels in heaven now, and probably fixing God’s cars! I know that those who have gone on before us greeted you with open arms. Until we see each other again face to face, we know that you will be watching over us. As you love all of us, we too love you forever and ever.

Obituary

July 17, 2012

Edward (Eddie) Paul Grinder, 30, died unexpectedly on July 13, 2012 in Port St. Lucie, FL.

 

Born September 24, 1981, in Pittsburgh, PA, he was the son of Diane Sanford Collier of Port St. Lucie and Gary L. Grinder of Key Largo, FL. He lived in the Fort Pierce-Port. St. Lucie area since 1994, moving there from the Florida Keys.

 

He was a car mechanic and boilermaker. Eddie was an avid Steeler fan, surfer, fisherman and a  DJ. He attended Fort Pierce Central High School.

 

In addition to his parents, he is survived by his wife, Gayle Monty-Grinder of Port St. Lucie; son, Devon of Port St. Lucie; three sisters, Alecia Collier and Sharon Sanford of Port St. Lucie, and Jennifer Grinder of St. Louis, MO; a brother, Jeff White of Fort Pierce; maternal grandfather, Chuck Sanford of North Apollo, PA; paternal grandparents, Frank and Betty Grinder of Apollo, PA; aunts, Jeannine Sanford of Vandergrift, PA, Deborah Grinder of Virginia, Sandy Schiratto of Apollo, PA, and uncles, Kurt Sanford of Lower Burrell, PA and Mark Grinder of Apollo, PA.

 

He was preceded in death by his maternal grandmother, Sharon Sanford.

 

Services: A “Celebration of Life” service will be held at 12 noon Friday at the South Jetty, Seaway Drive, Fort Pierce. The Rev. Paul Phipps of Sent Life Church will officiate. Arrangements are by Haisley Funeral & Cremation Service in Fort Pierce. A memorial page is available atwww.forevermissed.com/edward-paul-grinder. In lieu of flowers, donation information will be available on the website at a later date.