Born in Somerville, MA on May 2, 1931 and raised in his early teens in Coral Gables, FL, Captain Laurence Hill Grimes, Jr. devoted 34 years of active-duty service to his country in the United States Navy.

Upon his retirement in1983, he began a second career molding young minds in high school classrooms teaching Math, History and Spanish for 14 years at Pensacola Catholic High where he was respectfully known by the students as "Señor".

He died at his home in Gulf Breeze on May 6th, 2024, four days after his 93rd birthday.

Captain Grimes' naval service was varied and began in 1949 when he enlisted at 18 years old as a Seaman Recruit before successfully competing for an appointment to the United States Naval Academy. Upon graduation in 1955, he began flight training at NAS Pensacola.

It was here that he met the love of his life, Etheldreda "Dreda" Watson, a member of the large Brent family.  They were married in November, 1956 and had been married for 57 years when she predeceased him in 2013.  Becoming a part of Dreda's family is what inspired his love for Pensacola, his fascination with its history and his decision to retire here.

After receiving his wings as a pilot in March, 1957, he went on to qualify as a pilot of seaplanes and was assigned to VP-49 in Bermuda. He returned to the U.S. in 1961 to Jacksonville, FL and served as an instructor pilot in seaplanes.  In 1962, he was selected to be the personal aide to Vice Admiral William Shoech, Deputy Chief of Naval Operations for Air at the Pentagon.  In 1965, he transitioned from seaplanes to carrier aircraft and reported to VS-36 on board the USS Randolph (CV-15).  His next tour was two deployments with VS-29, flying from the USS Kearsarge (CV-33) in the Tonkin Gulf off Vietnam.  He was then ordered to the U.S. Naval War College in Newport, RI where he attained his Masters Degree in International Relations from George Washington University in June, 1968.  Upon completion of his masters degree, he was assigned to the USS Hancock (CVA-19) as Aircraft Handling Officer and later as Assistant Air Boss.  He was selected in 1971 to command training squadron VT-27 in Corpus Christi, TX. In 1973, he received orders to the USS Midway (CVA-41) in Yokosuka, Japan as Operations Officer and was promoted to Executive Officer soon thereafter.  While serving as Executive Officer, he played a significant role in Operation Frequent Wind, the evacuation of refugees during the fall of Saigon.  In 1976, he became the Commanding Officer of the amphibious assault ship USS Duluth (LPD-6) where he was celebrated by his crew as the "Rhinestone Cowboy" Captain and served in that capacity for two years.  From 1978-1980 he was the Commodore of the U.S. South Atlantic Force based out of Puerto Rico.  His final tour of duty was as the Chief of Staff for the Naval Education and Training Command in Pensacola, FL.  His decorations include the Bronze Star, the Air Medal, two Meritorious Service Medals, two Navy Commendation Medals, the National Defense Medal, the Vietnam Cross of Gallantry, the Vietnam Service Medal with four battle stars, the Navy Unit Commendation Medal, and the Meritorious Unit Commendation Medal.

He always considered his service and work a privilege, and his Dreda the "perfect Navy wife" in all that she volunteered and was recognized for in numerous duty sites stateside and in Japan and Puerto Rico.

Captain Grimes is predeceased by his wife, Etheldreda Watson Grimes; parents, Laurence Hill and Eleanore Reed Grimes; sister, Grace Grimes Wriggins; his mother and father in law, Mary Eliot Hanway and James Brent Watson; and brother in laws, James Brent Watson Jr. and Don R. Hensarling.

Survivors include his daughter, Catherine Grace Grimes Cole, Birmingham, AL; grandsons, Alexander Monroe Cole (Julianne), Quantico, VA and Zachary Van Cole, Birmingham, AL; great grandchildren Callum Van Cole, Birmingham, AL and Lucy Grace Cole, Quantico, VA; brother in law, John Hanway Watson (Jane), Brownsville, TN; sisters in law, Judy Watson, Pensacola, FL and Catherine Watson Hensarling, Tampa, FL; eight nieces and two nephews and numerous great nieces and great nephews.

A Memorial Mass will be celebrated at the Basilica of St. Michael the Archangel, 21 N. Palafox St., Pensacola, FL 32502 on Saturday, May 18, 2024 at 2:00 pm with Fr. Joe Fowler, Celebrant. Inurnment will follow at St. Michaels Cemetery with full military honors.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials to the National Naval Aviation Museum at NAS Pensacola, 1750 Radford Blvd., Pensacola, FL 32508 or the Mother Clelia Morning Star High School c/o Pensacola Catholic High School, 3043 W. Scott St. Pensacola, FL., 32505.