THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, November 12, 1994 TAG: 9411120113
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B04 EDITION: FINAL
DATELINE: VIRGINIA BEACH LENGTH: Short : 50 lines
Ruby Creef Grimstead, 81, of the 1600 block of Laurel Lane, concluded her life's journey early Friday morning November 11, 1994. She was the widow of Melvin J. Grimstead and lived the past 64 years in Princess Anne County and the City of Virginia Beach.
Ruby was born on November 17, 1912, in the small community of East Lake, Dare County, North Carolina. She was the eldest surviving child of fourteen children born to Van Osdell Creef and Lola Alexander Creef. Ruby was a devoted wife and companion of her husband Melvin for more than sixty years. She was a dedicated mother to her four children and was considered Mom to many of her children's friends. Ruby left the isolated community of East Lake at the tender age of seventeen to come live in the Tidewater area in 1929. She fell in love with Melvin Grimstead and bore him four children that she raised in the rural community of Dam Neck where many of her dear friends still reside. She moved with her husband and family to the present Seatack area of Virginia Beach where she was co-owner of Grimstead's Market located at the corner of Birdneck Road and Virginia Beach Blvd. This gentle lady befriended everyone she met and gave a sincere love and warmth to all.
Ruby is survived by one daughter, Melva Grimstead of Virginia Beach; three sons, Harry J. (Charlie) Grimstead of High Point, N.C., Richard L. (Bim) Grimstead and William O. (Bunky) Grimstead, both of Virginia Beach; One Step-Daughter, Joyce Grimstead Gramlich of Chesapeake, Va., Four sisters, Iris Mae Smith, Joyce Marsh, and Grace Whidbee, all of Elizabeth City, N.C., Margie Bafford of Baltimore, MD., Three brothers Archie Creef of Chapel Hill, N.C., Gilbert Creef of Tacoma, Washington, and Rev. Bill Creef of Elizabeth City, N.C. She is also survived by two granddaughters, Mylinda Grimstead McKinney and Coley Lee Grimstead of Virginia Beach and Three grandsons, Charles (Chuck) Grimstead, and James (Jamie) Grimstead of High Point, N.C., and Curtis Grimstead of Virginia Beach and numerous nieces, nephews and other relatives and friends throughout Eastern Virginia and North Carolina.
A graveside service will be conducted Sunday, November 13, 1994 at 3 P.M. in the Nimmo United Methodist Church Cemetery by the Rev. William Cashman presiding minister of York River Baptist Church in Williamsburg. The family will receive friends tonight (Saturday), November 12, 1994 from 6 until 7:30 P.M. in the Maestas Funeral Home, Baltice Avenue Chapel.
Dear God has taken back one of his brightest stars and all our lives will be dimmer.
KEYWORDS: DEATH OBITUARY
by CNB