JOHN S. GRANTHAM SR., 74

JOHN S. GRANTHAM SR., 74, died Wednesday, July 1, 2009 in Fort Wayne. Born on January 11, 1935, his wife, Connie survives him. They had been married for 51 years.

Also surviving are his children: Shane (Jody) Grantham, Heather Grantham, Eric (Nicole) Grantham, and Holly (Andrew) Vollink, a grandson, Jack C. Grantham, and a step-grandson, Dalton Jorgenson.

Mr. Grantham was a graduate of Indiana State University in Terre Haute, IN. He served in the United State Marine Corps from 1953 until 1956. Mr. Grantham taught at Kekionga Junior High for 4 years, at Weisser Park for 1 year, at Jefferson Junior High for 13 years. He retired in 1991 after being at North Side High School for 11 years. While at North Side High School, he was an administrator, counselor, and assistant athletic director. He was best known for his contributions to the Wildcat Baseball Association where he began as a site director in 1963. He was elected as Wildcat’s president in 1965. He was president of Wildcat Baseball until 2007 when he retired. Mr. Grantham received the Summit Athletic Conference Coaches Award in 1987. He received the Charles W. Wilt Sr. Memorial Award in 1993 for his contributions to baseball in Fort Wayne. In 1990, former Mayor Paul Helmke honored Mr. Grantham’s commitment to the youth in Fort Wayne. He was inducted into the Fort Wayne Baseball Hall of Fame on May 29, 1998 and into the Indiana Baseball Hall of Fame in 2001. He also received the Hilliard Gates Lifetime Achievement Award. In 2000, he received Indiana’s highest civilian award, the Sagamore of the Wabash.

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Private family service will be held at D. O. McComb and Sons Maplewood Park Funeral Home, 4017 Maplecrest Rd. Public visitation was from 1 to 5 p.m. Friday at the funeral home.

Memorials may be made to the Allen County S.P.C.A. or SCAN.