(12/16/14) Charlestown - Leroy A. Grinnell, 81, died Friday, December 12, 2014 at Rhode Island Hospital, Providence after a very brief illness. He was the beloved husband of Joan (Maxson) Grinnell to whom he was married 58 years.
Born in Westerly, he was the son of the late Leroy C. and Lilian H. (Davies) Grinnell. Roy graduated from the University of Rhode Island receiving a degree in Civil Engineering. While in college, Roy participated in track and field in the Hammer Throw. He served in the United States Army.
He was the President and Treasurer of The Grinnell-Phillips Corporation. Roy was a pioneer in the design and construction of most of the fish ladders built in the state during the 70\'s and 80\'s. He designed and built his own barges, boats and pile drivers. Despite \"retiring\", Roy truly never stopped working. He was the founder of Ninigret Marine, a company now owned and operated by his daughter Lynn, for whom he was working up until the Friday before his death.
Roy lived in Warwick before moving to Charlestown in 1989. He was a member and the Treasurer of Cross Mills Baptist Church in Charlestown. Previously and for 33 years he belonged to Phillips Memorial Baptist Church in Cranston. He was a member of the Charlestown Fire District Building Committee.
His work enabled him to combine his two loves: being on the water and building things. In his \"retirement\" years, he loved cruising on the waters in his Nordic Tug.
In addition to his wife, he is survived by his daughter Lynn G. Sweet & her husband Warner of South Kingstown; two sons: Stephen E. Grinnell & his wife Holly of Charlestown and Scott Roy Grinnell & Kristin Hicks of Charlestown; four grandchildren: Ann Taft, Taylor Grinnell, Quinley Sweet and Michael Grinnell-Meyer and one great grandson, John J. Taft.
Calling hours will be held on Thursday, December 18 from 4:00 - 7:00 PM at Carpenter-Jenks Funeral Home & Crematory, 659 East Greenwich Avenue, West Warwick. His funeral service and interment will be private.
In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory may be made to Cross Mills Baptist Church, P.O. Box 1165, Charlestown, RI 02813. Remembrances may be offered online at carpenterjenks.com.
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