Obituary of Barbara Marie Grimm

Barbara Marie Grimm, 91, of Durham, California passed away on Thursday, December 3, 2015 in Durham. Barbara was born in Klamath Falls, Oregon to Benjamin Franklin Presley and Mattie Vera Bennett, on January 11, 1924. Barbara was the second of five children, Alma, Bud and Audry, all of whom preceded her in death, and the youngest, brother Lee Presley, who survives her. Barbara met Richard Lowell Grimm during WWII while both were supporting the war effort as welders in the shipyards in Sausalito, CA. They married on April 23, 1946 in Sparks, Nevada. After living briefly in Oregon, Dick and Barbara finally settled in Oroville, CA. While Dick worked for Walsh and Ricketts Grocery and later, the Dept. of Water Resources, Barbara worked various office jobs before going to work for Butte County Title Company, retiring in 1987. Dick died in a workplace accident on November 30, 1973. Dick and Barbara were founding members of Calvary Lutheran Church and put in many hours building the church on Ashley Ave. in Oroville. After Dick died, Barbara moved to Paradise, managing the Butte County Title office there before returning to Oroville. She was active on many bowling teams, played golf with a few lady friends, and enjoyed gardening and walking around her neighborhood and across the Oroville Dam with her daughter-in-law Bonnie. With declining health, Barbara moved to Durham in 2012 to live with daughter Sue and son-in-law Art. Barbara enjoyed her twice a month gatherings with her Gal Pals and she was still a whiz at those crossword puzzles. Barbara is survived by son Jim Thornton of Berry Creek, son Rick and wife Bonnie (Blacet) of Cool, daughter Susan Grimm McHarg and husband Art of Durham, daughter-in-law Theresa Thornton (Moench) of Oroville, as well as seven grand-kids, many beloved great grand-kids, nephews, nieces, and her best friend since they were seven years old, Millie Brazil who passed away 4 days after Barbara. Her beastie friend, Socks the Cat, misses her now. Mom, you will be missed by so many. Her son Jerry Thornton preceded her in death in 2011. The family would like to thank Dr. Steven Schwartz for taking such good care of our mother over the years, and also the staff of Butte Home Health and Hospice, Chico, for their loving care of our Mother in her final days. Per Barbara's wishes, there will be no visitation. Interment will be at Oroville Memorial Park Cemetery on Lincoln Blvd. Friends are welcome to join family at Graveside Services on Tuesday, December 15, 2015 at 11:00 AM. In lieu of flowers donations can be made to Northwest SPCA. Arrangements are entrusted to Ramsey Funeral Home 530-534-3877.