Robert Grissom

Robert (Bob) James Grissom, 80, passed away on July 24, 2023, after a long battle with Lewy Body Dementia.

Bob was born on February 12, 1943, in Tulare, California, to Ray Franklin and Iva Lee Grissom. Bob graduated from Tulare Union High School in 1960.

Shortly after graduating high school, he married Joyce Merlene Hanks in 1963. Bob and Joyce went on to have two daughters, Michelle and Kristin.

Bob is predeceased by his parents, Ray Franklin and Iva Lee Grissom, his sister-in-law Dona Rae Grissom and brother-in-law David Joseph Cordeiro. He is survived by his daughters Michelle Diane Nelson (Scott) and Kristin Deanne Smith (Donald), grandchildren Alexis Joymarie Silveira (Sebastian), Rilee Nicole Hopper (Kristopher), Ashley Nicole Nelson, Kiersti Janae Mayabb (Zachary), Tyler James Nelson, Madison Nicole Nickell (Caleb), and Allison Breann Smith, including three great-grandchildren Sophia Iva Silveira, Shepherd James Hopper, and Graham Louis Silveira. He also leaves behind his siblings, Richard Lee Grissom and Irene Faye Cordeiro, and countless nieces and nephews. 

Bob had an incredibly successful career as a plumber. He began his career at Canby’s, where he learned his trade. He then went on to start his own private custom plumbing company for 25 years. He later went to work for American Air Inc. and retired in 2019.   

Bob was a husband, father, papa, brother, uncle, friend, and mentor to many. He loved with all his heart, and you were lucky to be called his buddy. Throughout his life, he opened his home to all, creating a safe space for anyone who needed it. He was passionate about his career and used any opportunity to teach people his trade. If you needed anything, he was always the first to arrive and the last to leave. 

In his free time, you could find him working on a project. He was artistic and loved to work with copper, build sculptures, model airplanes, wind chimes, and gardening. As a young boy, Bob was a boy scout. Throughout high school, Bob enjoyed working on cars and hanging with his buddies. He was a proud member of the Visalia Elks Lodge up until his death.

Services will be held on Saturday, July 29, 2023, at 11:30 a.m. at Gateway Church in Visalia. Reception to follow at the Visalia Elks Lodge. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Lewy Body Dementia Association

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