Obituary of Robert Grindle
Master Sergeant Robert J. "Bubba" Grindle (U.S.A.F. Retired) went home to Heaven late last evening after a period of declining health. He was a career NCO in the Air Force. He was a survival instructor, taking pilots and other military personnel into the mountain wilderness or in the desert to teach them how to survive if they had to eject from the plane in hostile territory. He helped teach survival techniques to the first American astronauts as well as countless pilots and other air crewman. He trained military personnel for the Shah of Iran, for Emperor Haile Selassie of Ethiopia and others which he could not discuss. He served from Alaska to Okinawa, to the Philippines. And in Vietnam where the med evacuation chopper he was in was hit by Vietcong rocket but survived the crash landing. He taught the Air Force Academy and was assigned to assist in debriefing some returning POWS from the war in Vietnam.
Bob was a native of Southwest Harbor, Maine. He graduated from South Portland High School in 1953, and joined the Air Force in 1953. His last assignments were Stead AFB and Fairchild AFB where he was honorably discharged in 1975.
Bob loved sports especially the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park, the Boston Celtics, The New England Patriots, the Notre Dame Fighting Irish, and also the Swain High Maroon Devils.
He was the son of the late (Robert J.L. Grindle) and (Marian Driscoll Grindle). He was preceded in death by a brother, Edward Grindle, sister, Mary Grindle Dunbar, and a daughter, Debra Grindle Bern.
Bob is survived by his beloved wife of 56 years and 11 months, Ruth Lindsay Grindle; son, Joe and fiancé, Mary Mason, of Bryson City; daughters, Cheri Lynn Cloer and husband, Harold Cloer, of Bryson City; and Vickie McNaught and Robin Grindle, both of Galesburg, Illinois; grandchildren, Whitney Tabor (Cody Booher), Joseph Grindle, Jr., Austin Grindle (Carissa) and Savannah Cloer; and four great grandchildren, Layla Tabor, Bentley and Cooper Booher and Jadeyn Grindle. He also had several grandchildren and great grandchildren in Illinois.
The family will receive friends on December 8th at Crisp Funeral Home from 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM followed by a celebration of life at 3:00 PM. The Reverend Earl King and brother-in-law, R. Scott Lindsay, will officiate. Attendance of the Memorial Service is appreciated.