Voni B. Grimes, 95, entered into rest early Friday morning January 26, 2018. The son of the late McKinley and Mittie (Generette) Grimes was born on December 23, 1922 in Bamberg, SC. At the age of 4, Voni parents moved to York.
At 12 years old, he became a member of Small Memorial AME Zion Church. He was a member of the choir, served as superintendent of the Sunday School for 20 years, served on the Board of Trustees for many years and continued to serve until his illness. He was… Read More » educated in the York City School District, and graduated in the class of M-40.
In 1944, Voni married the late Irene Clay, there were no children to this union. Voni served in the U.S. Army and received an Honorable discharged May 1, 1946. He was employed by Cole Steel and Penn State University and retired from both.
There is a scholarship in his name at the York Campus. Voni studied at Penn State York Campus and the University of Kentucky. He always urged students to get all the education they could get, because it was better to have an education and not need it, than to need it and not have it.
In 1969 he married Lorrayne Gibson of Harrisburg and he accepted her five children as his own. They spent 48 years of marital bliss. He loved to travel and took many cruises, his last extended travel was to China.
He loved to sing and play his harmonicas. Voni favorite song was “One Day at a Time”. He has played at many churches in and around York.
Voni played his harmonica at Brook Robinson Stadium, home of the Revolutions. He would play his famous “Take Me Out to the Ball Game”. Voni was adopted by the youth and community of York as a mentor.
They called him “Uncle Bus”. He will be remembered in York for all his contributions to the City. His name appears on the monument on the east corner of Market & George Sts.
The city honored him by renaming the College Avenue Gym to Voni B. Grimes Gym. He was a charter member of York County Parks and Recreation. His name appears on all the County Parks as Secretary.
He was a member of the York Yacht Club, past member of Crispus Attucks, Chamber of Commerce, Volunteer of Heartland Hospice; he spent 20 plus yrs. as secretary of AAA York Division, and counselor for SCORE. Voni also taught self-defense to women at Penn State York, and has a black belt in judo.
He was a member of the York County Gospel Choir and owned and operated Golden Personal Care Home for 12 yrs. at Duke and Cottage Pl. He was Past Governor of 14 C Lions Club, member of Social Friendship Lodge #42, 33rd Degree Mason of PHA Nimrod Consistory and charter member of World War II Museum.
Voni leaves to always honor his memory his loving wife, Lorrayne; two daughters, Toni Thompson of Concord, NC and Johnsie Silas of Harrisburg; 12 grandchildren; two devoted granddaughters, Wendy DeVan and Amber Silas; 14 great-grandchildren; two special nieces, Dr. Deborah McMillan and Sandra Hensford, both of York; nephew, Reginald Ellis of Cincinnati OH; many nieces, nephews, cousins, other family members and friends. In addition to his parents, Voni was preceded in death by two sisters, Ertha Grimes and Margaret Kittrell; and a brother, McKinly Grimes. Voni’s special friends, Rev.
Cliff Moye, Rev. Leighton McMillan, Mike Moul, Dale Kaufman, John Zimmerman, Ed Saxe, Brother Lee Beard, Anthony Cameron, Jack Woodard, Ron Woodard, James McClure, Clara Anderson, Lois Stump, Rev. and Mrs. Johnson, Rev.
Steve Rambler and son, Bryon, Sarabelle Baugher and daughter, Cindy, Kevin C. Sandmeyer, Jane Cuthrell, Dora Jackson, Robert Elicker, Samuel Wooden, James Spells, Atty. Todd Platts and special angel, April Collier. Voni gave his all to God, his family and to his community.
To God Be the Glory. We thank all who took the time to pray and to visit with him during his illness. His favorite quote “Man makes the plans, but God makes the decisions”.
He will be remembered for all his involvement in his beloved City of York. There will be two viewings, Friday, February 2, 2018 from 6 to 8 p.m. and Saturday, February 3, 2018 from 8 to 10 a.m. and a Celebration of Life Service on Saturday at 10 a.m. all at Small Memorial AME Zion Church, 401 S. Queen St., York, with the Rev. Samuel Means, officiating and Bishop Carl H. Scott, eulogist.
Interment will be in Susquehanna Memorial Gardens, York with full military rites given by the York Co. Honor Guard.
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