Frederick "Fred" Grindle

In memory and celebration of the life of Colonel Frederick W. Grindle Jr.



Fred was born in Colorado on August 10, 1920 and took his last flight to touch the face of God on Saturday, May 15, 2010.

Fred shared 68 wonderful years of marriage to Adelaide "Lois" Grindle. The couple had five children. The Grindle's moved to the Bitterroot Valley in 1992. Fred enjoyed his retirement years keeping busy with his yard and fishing the West Fork and East Fork of the Bitterroot River.

Colonel Grindle enlisted in the Army Air Corps in 1942. A command pilot with more than 4,000 flying hours, he flew 70 combat missions in A-20 and A-26 aircraft over Europe in WWII, and 21 combat missions during the Korean conflict and 13 missions during the Viet Nam war. His flight log includes more then 1400 hours of jet flying time in T-33, B57 and B47 aircraft. Overseas assignments have taken him to Italy, France, Corsica, Libya, Japan, Korea, England, Spain, Philippines and Hawaii. Colonel Grindle retired from his military life in 1972.

Fred will be missed by friends and family. In lieu of flowers, Mrs. Grindle wished donations in Fred's name to a charity of the donor's choice.