WILLIAMSBURG — Joel B. Grimm, 63, a journalism teacher at Kecoughtan High School in Hampton for 27 years, died Thursday, April 16.
Mrs. Grimm, who retired from Kecoughtan in 1990, began teaching at the school in 1963. During her years there she served as adviser to the school newspaper Tribal Tales, Student Council, Warrior TomTom radio show, Quill and Scroll and the yearbook staff.
A former student, Jan Sigler Gear, fondly remembered Mrs. Grimm in a My Turn column which appeared in the Daily Press in June 1990. Reflecting on the retirement of her former teacher, Gear said, ``Although I know that life goes on, I cannot help but think that a tradition has been laid to rest.'' She added, ``Thanks for the memories.''
In 1971, Mrs. Grimm received honorable mention as Journalism Teacher of the Year from the National Newspaper Foundation. She helped form the Virginia High School League Scholastic Publications Advisory Committee in 1969 and consistently was the winner of awards at state and national levels.
She moved to the Peninsula in 1961 with her husband who was assigned to Fort Monroe and became a Williamsburg resident in 1978. Mrs. Grimm was a native of Omaha, Neb., and graduated summa cum laude from the University of Nebraska in 1951. She was a Mortar Board and a member of Pi Beta Phi sorority, also earning Phi Beta Kappa honors.
Mrs. Grimm is survived by her husband, retired Army Col. Philip D. Grimm; a daughter, Alix G. Brennan of Fort Irwin, Calif.; three sons, Philip Jeffrey Grimm of Washington, Pa., Russell Arnold Grimm of Fort Drum, N.Y., and David Kidd Grimm of Fort Riley, Kan.; a sister, Priscilla Peterson of Omaha, Neb.; a brother, William M. Bailey of Omaha; and 12 grandchildren.
A memorial service will be conducted at 2 p.m. Tuesday at the Chapel of the Centurion, Fort Monroe.
Memorials may be made to the Joel B. Grimm Journalism Scholarship, c/o Office of the Principal, Kecoughtan High School, 522 Woodland Road, Hampton 23669; or Williamsburg Hospital Foundation, 1238 Mt. Vernon Ave., Williamsburg 23185. Arrangements are by Bucktrout Funeral Home.
