Obituary: Grider
Danny Ray Grider, 78 of Pontiac, formerly of Chenoa passed away peacefully surrounded by his loving family at 4:17 am, Tuesday, July 24, 2018 at his residence in Pontiac.
His Funeral Service will be at 11 am, Saturday, July 28, 2018 at the First Baptist Church of Pontiac with Rev. Dr. James O. Wolfe III officiating. Full military rites will be accorded immediately following the funeral service at the church. Cremation rites will follow at the conclusion of the services.
Visitation will be from 4 to 8 pm, Friday, July 27, 2018 at Duffy-Pils Memorial Home, Chenoa and one hour prior to services at the church on Friday.
Mr. Grider was born September 26, 1939 in Chenoa, IL, the son of Everett and Mary Kathleen (Barnes) Grider. He married Connie Baxter on April 24, 1994 in Chenoa. His wife, Connie, survives in Pontiac.
Other survivors include a daughter, Joy (Chet) Danko of Caledonia, WI; two sons, James (Rebecca) Grider of Florence, WI and Virgil Bryce (Kristy Redenbaugh) Grider of Urbana; two daughters by marriage, Jennifer Baker of Melbourne, FL and Karah Baker of Woodstock; four sisters, Kay Birch of Lexington, Nancy Pickett of Chenoa, Mary Jo (Danny) Heath of Chenoa, and Sue Dombrowski of Charlotte, NC; four grandchildren, Johnny Danko, Natalie Grider, Megan Grider, and Ann Marie Grider; brother-in-law, Gary (Judith) Baxter of Pontiac, sister-in-law, Judy Baxter of Pontiac, his favorite mother-in-law, Joyce Baxter and many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents and two brothers-in-law, Terry Pickett and Bill Birch.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the First Baptist Church of Pontiac, Vermillion Players or OSF Hospice.
Danny was a member of First Baptist Church of Pontiac. His true calling in life was his love and passion for Community Theater, which he involved himself wherever he lived, especially with Vermillion Players in Pontiac, which he served in all aspects including the board of directors, directing, producing, performing, set construction and stage hand. He also served as choir director for the many churches he attended in his various residences, most recently at the First Baptist Church of Pontiac. He proudly served our country in the US Army from May 1962 until March 1966.
