charles Grimmett

Charles Harold Grimmett was born March 12, 1938 to Olen Harley and Esther Emelia (Collyer) Grimmett in Maysville, Missouri. Charles was the oldest of ten children. The family moved multiple times by the time Charles was ten years old. In 1948 the family settled in a home on south 4th street in Council Grove, Kansas where Charles lived until leaving to attend college.

Charles graduated from Council Grove High School with the class of 1956. His mother missed his graduation as she was still in the hospital after the birth of his younger brother, Gary. While in high school, Charles took part in multiple sports. In track, he qualified to attend the Kansas state meet.

After high school, Charles attended Kansas State College of Agriculture and Applied Science, now known as Kansas State University. Shortly after arriving in Manhattan, Charles was set up on a blind date with Marcella Albright. Friends of the couple, Charles Wilson and Rogene Davis, instigated this first date between Charles and Marcella. That blind date, nearly 70 years ago, began a love story for the ages that lasted until Charles’ death on April 9, 2026 at the age of 88 years and 4 weeks.

Charles and Marcella were married on June 7, 1958 at the Harper Methodist Church in downtown Harper, Kansas. A few months after their wedding, Charles enlisted in the United States Air Force. He attended basic training at Lackland Air Force Base, located in San Antonio, Texas. Further training was completed in Amarillo, Texas at the Amarillo Air Force Base, after which he was stationed in Honolulu, Hawaii. He arrived there shortly before Hawaii became a U.S. state. Marcella was fortunate enough to join him in Honolulu. While there, their first child, Cynthia, was born in 1961. After being honorably discharged from the Air Force on May 8, 1963, the family returned home to Kansas where Dana joined the family in 1965 and Michael in 1971.

After military life, Charles and Marcella moved to south central Kansas where Charles worked with his in-laws, Albert and Myrtle Albright, on the family farm near Duquoin, Kansas. He and Marcella then moved to Harper where they lived for over 50 years before moving to Anthony, Kansas in 2018. Charles became a commuter to Wichita for the majority of his adult life, working for Beech Aircraft, The Boeing Company, and Spirit Aircraft. In addition to his career in the aircraft industry, Charles worked for a time at DewEze Manufacturing and for Forrest Hoover at his service station in Harper. After retirement, Charles enjoyed volunteering at the local elementary school. He held education in high regard, encouraging many children to strive to be the best they could be.

Charles was a member of the Harper United Methodist Church where he served in many capacities over the years. Some of those positions included member and officer of the church council, youth group leader, bell choir member, and volunteer at the annual Ham and Bean Feed to name a few of his roles. If there was a job that needed to be done, often times Charles would take care of it.

Charles enjoyed raising plants and flowers, an interest passed down from his mother. He had a very dry sense of humor which often times made others wonder if he was serious or kidding. He would regularly express his opinion on how things should be done. This, coupled with that dry sense of humor, sometimes left people scratching their heads!

Charles and Marcella spent many hours attending activities and events of their family. In addition to their children, they have 8 grandchildren and 9 great-grandchildren.

Charles is preceded in death by his parents Olen and Esther Grimmett; brother Thomas “Tommy” Grimmett; sisters-in-law Susan Grimmett and Marilyn Albright. He is survived by his wife Marcella; daughters, Cynthia Olds (Kent) of Anthony, Dana Smith (Chris) of Harper, and son Michael Grimmett (Jillian) of Augusta; grandchildren: Kandace Hunt (Jay) of Andover, Kiley Davis (Brad Davis) of Anthony, Natalie Schmidt (Mike) of Girard, Meredith Olds of Pratt, Derek Smith (Whitny) of Inman, Bethany Smith (fiancé Nick Epp) of Hutchinson, Gretchen Grimmett of Emporia and Hannah Grimmett of Boston, MA; great-grandchildren: Jax and Silas Hunt, Asa, Joplynn and Blakely Davis, Fay and Nora Schmidt, Addie Smith and Adysson Urueta Ortiz; brothers: Robert “Bob”, Lyle (Janet), Richard, Gary, and Ronnie (KJ); sisters Nancy Hickman, Donna Bachura (Larry) and Carol Grimmett; brother-in-law Dennis Albright; many nieces and nephews, other relatives and numerous friends.

Memorial Service is 2:00 p.m. Friday, April 24, 2026 at Harper United Methodist Church with Pastor Bruce Wilson officiating. As a staunch K-State fan, Charles would be pleased if those attending wore purple. However, please do not feel obligated to do so.

Memorial contributions may be made payable to Stormont Vail Hospital of Topeka or Interim HealthCare Hospice and can be sent in care of the funeral home.

Prairie Rose Funeral Homes, 613 W 14th St ~ Harper, Kansas 67058 www.prairierosefuneralhomes.com