Ronald Eugene "Gene" Grimes

Ronald Eugene “Gene” Grimes, age 100 of Wilmore, Kentucky, passed away on, Sunday, November 1, 2026 after a short period of declining health following a fall and fracture.

He was a proud veteran of World War II and was a resident at the Thomson-Hood Veterans Center in Wilmore at the time of his death.

He was born in Jacksonville, Florida in 1926 to John Paul Grimes and Mary Clay Grimes, both originally from Nicholas County, Kentucky.

He joined the US Army in 1944 and was planned to be part of the invasion of the Japanese islands; he witnessed the surrender and peace signing in Tokyo harbor and then became part of the Occupation Force thereafter. When he mustered out in 1946 as a Staff Sargeant, he returned to central Florida and his job at FW Woolworth.

Gene spent his first career with FW Woolworth and Woolco, being posted in Atlanta, Greensboro, Chattanooga, Henderson (NC), St Augustine, Largo (Fl), Hendersonville & Madison (TN), Kinston (NC) and Seminole (FL) where he retired. He then joined Roses Stores and was in Henderson (NC), Eustis (FL) and Tifton (GA). After this second retirement, he moved to Madison, Alabama then to Winchester, KY and Georgetown, Ky.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Nancy Redditt Grimes and his brother, John Paul “Jack” Grimes.

He is survived by two sons, Ronald E Grimes Jr (Dana) of Franklin, TN and Donald Charles Grimes of Lexington, KY and his daughter, Sandra Grimes Newman (Jim) of Winchester, KY plus 4 grandchildren and 7 great grandchildren.

There are no services scheduled at this time, but the family is appreciative of all the loving messages received to-date, as well as the kind medical care and support of the staff at the Lexington Veteran’s Hospital and at the Thomson-Hood Veteran’s Center in Wilmore.

Albritton Funeral Directors is in charge of arrangements.