GRIMES, Claude Wilson, was born 24 February 1894 at Forty-Eight Creek, Wayne County, Tennessee. He was the son of Wilson I. GRIMES ( born Nov 1860 and died 16 Oct 1923, buried Tolle Cemetery) and Sarah BARNETT( b. June 1861, d. 12 April 1923, buried Tolle Cemetery.)

Claude Wilson GRIMES married Gradys CREWS on 16 June 1918. Their children were Margaret GRIMES GALLAHER, C. W. GRIMES (died at age 3 months), Walter “Bud” GRIMES, Louise GRIMES OSWALT, William James “Jim” GRIMES, Ralph Eugene GRIMES, Frances GRIMES KELLY, Glenn GRIMES, Annette GRIMES TRIMBLE, and Bruce GRIMES.

Claude’s siblings were Jasper M. GRIMES, b. Oct 1881, William Edgar GRIMES, b. March 1887, d. 22 Jan 1933, Mattie E. GRIMES, b. Oct 1890; Lizza B. GRIMES, b. Feb 1892; and Tennie GRIMES, b. June 1896.

Claude was inducted on 8 July 1918 at Lawrenceburg, Tennessee. He was discharged on 15 February 1919, the same day his brother, William Edgar GRIMES, was discharged.

Claude was living with his parents on Forty-Eight Creek and was farming the family farm. He had registered at Lawrenceburg when his parents lived at Ethridge. He was inducted three weeks after he and Gladys were married. He left on the train at Lawrenceburg with a group of other inductees at 4 O’clock on 8 July 1918. They went to Camp Sheridan in Montgomery, Alabama. They were assigned to the 46th Infantry

Claude and his buddies remained for a while; he stayed there all the time he was in the Army.

The 46th Infantry was ready to go overseas when the Armistice was signed on 11 November 1918. He was in Company K, 46th Infantry. His serial number was 3,238,398.

He was surprised to find his brother, William Edgar, at Camp Sheridan. William had been working in St. Louis and was inducted there. Claude returned to the farm and we went to house keeping. After his parents died and seven children were born, we moved to Waynesboro, to a little farm on Hog Creek so that school would be closer for the children. Two more children were born on Hog Creek.

In 1936, Claude worked for the Wayne County Highway Department, then later on for the State of Tennessee Highway Department, where he worked until his retirement. He died 12 Sep 1978 and is buried in Waynesboro Memorial Gardens, Waynesboro, Tennessee. He was a member of the Waynesboro Church of Christ, and a member of the American Legion, first in Lawrence County and then as a charter member of Post 130.

Written by his wife, Gladys CREWS GRIMES

Five of Claude’s children have served their country a total of almost 100 years. Walter GRIMES served in the US Navy for 30 years; James “Jim” GRIMES served in the Navy for 20 years, Ralph GRIMES served in the Navy also for 20 years and Glen, served in the Army for 26 years and is also a Vietnam Veteran. His daughter Gladys Annette, served in the Navy for 4 years.