John Thornton Grimes

John Thornton Grimes, 87, passed away peacefully on Saturday, March 21, 2026. A longtime resident of San Diego, CA, he spent his final days at Juniper Village in Forest Hills.

John was raised in Wilkinsburg and attended St. James Grade School then Central Catholic High School where he graduated in 1956. He continued his education at the University of Pittsburgh, earning degrees in business and engineering in 1960.  John then entered the U.S. Army and was stationed primarily at Fort Knox, Kentucky after which he began a long and accomplished career in the aerospace industry with Rohr Industries in San Diego, where he would make his home for the next several decades surrounded by dear friends.

John had a lifelong love of travel, exploring destinations around the world for both business and pleasure. Some of his favorite trips were those shared with his sisters and brother.  He fondly recalled a long-awaited tour of Ireland, his ancestral home, with his brother In July of 1997 when they attended a Steeler preseason game in Dublin.

In his retirement, John embraced new challenges, learning Spanish and volunteering as a tour guide in San Diego, California.

John was the son of the late Leone (Thornton) and late Joseph Keyern Grimes.  John is survived by his sisters, JoAnne Adamek of Florida and Joyce (the late Jim) Duffy of New York.  In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his brother, Jay (the late Martha Jane) Grimes, his sisters, Jean (the late Tom) Woeber, and Janet (the late Joe) Rogers.

John also leaves behind many nieces and nephews, as well as great-nieces, great-nephews, and great-great nieces and great-great nephews. He took great joy in his ever-growing family and even kept a running count of its members. The last count was around 48 family members! He knew them all and loved them dearly.

 Friends are welcome from 3 to 6 p.m. on Sunday, April 19, at Patrick T. Lanigan Funeral Home & Crematory, Inc., 700 Linden Ave. at Cable, East Pittsburgh, PA 15112 (412) 824-8800.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Monday, April 20, at 10 a.m. at St. Joseph the Worker Church (formerly St. Maurice Church), 2001 Ardmore Blvd, Forest Hills.

John will be laid to rest with Military Honors in Calvary Cemetery.