Dr. Edward Meals Grissinger

BROGUE- Dr. Edward Meals Grissinger, 81, of Chanceford Twp. died Tuesday, July 22, 2008 at his residence. He was the husband of Nancy M. (Clark) Grissinger with whom he shared over 50 years of marriage. A service will be 10 a.m. on Friday at St. Paul's United Methodist Church, 45 First Ave. in Red Lion, with The Reverend Lyle S. Bundy officiating. Viewings will be from 6-8 p.m. on Thursday at Life Tributes by Olewiler & Heffner Funeral Chapel & Crematory, Inc., 35 Gotham Place in Red lion, and from 9-10 a.m. on Friday at the church. Burial will be in St. John's Cemetery in Lewisberry with a flag folding by York County Veteran's Honor Guard. Ed was born in Carlisle on October 6, 1926, a son of the late Stanley Theodore and Mary Lou (Meals) Grissinger. Along with his wife Nancy, Ed leaves two sons: Alan and his wife Lynda of Cincinnati, OH and Matthew and his wife Jacqueline of Elkins Park, PA; a granddaughter, Alexa; and two sisters: Edna Neyhart and Mary Lou Koehler. He was preceded in death by five brothers and a sister. Ed served in the US Navy during WWII and then in the US Naval Reserves for five years. He and his six brothers and sisters constituted one of two families who had the most immediate family serving in the US Navy during WWII. While overseas, he served with the European Commander of Amphibious Forces in England and the Occupation Forces in Germany. In his early years, Ed was housed, fed and educated at the Tressler's Orphan Home in Loysville, PA. Subsequently, in 1948, Ed became the first person in history at Stevens Trade School to matriculate to a college directly after graduating from this institution. After Stevens, Ed graduated from Millersville State College with a Bachelor of Arts Degree, New York University with a Master of Arts Degree, and Lehigh University with a Doctor's Degree in Educational Administration. During his years of professional service, he was employed as a system-wide supervisor of education, a high school principal, a Leadership Specialist for the PA Department of Education, as well as Superintendent of schools at Jim Thorpe Area School District and the Red Lion Area School District. He was the first Superintendent of Record for the Carbon County Technical School. Along the way, he coached football, basketball, and track while serving as president of several local education associations. Since retirement from his profession in 1982, Ed served as a leader of volunteer organizations in many local, state, regional, and national activities. Active in Lionism, he achieved the rank of Chairman of the Council of Pennsylvania Lions, Lioness, and Leo Clubs after serving as President of the Red Lion Lions Club and District Governor of District 14-C. Ed was Chairman of the Auction for the York County Blind Center Radio Reading Service. In addition, he served on the York Area Community Progress Council, Collinsville Community Library Board, Chanceford Township Municipal Authority, York County Transportation Authority, York County Solid Waste Authority, Red Lion Area Historical Society, Meals on Wheels, Executive Secretary of the Conservation Society of York County and many other groups dedicated to services to others. Memorial contributions may be made to Indian Steps Foundation, c/o Philip Lauer, 710 S. George St., York, PA 17401.