Lt. Col. Grover Clinton Berryman

1923 - 2015  (91 years)

• Name	Grover Clinton Berryman
  Prefix	Lt. Col.
  Born	23 Oct 1923	Zavalla, Angelina County, Texas
  Gender	Male
  Died	10 Jul 2015	Friday Harbor, San Juan County, Washington
  Buried	St. Francis Cemetery, Friday Harbor, San Juan County, Washington
  Notes	Lt. Col. Grover (Berry) Clinton Berryman, 91, a longtime resident of Friday Harbor, Washington, passed away peacefully at home on July 10, 2015. He was born in Zavalla, Texas on October 23, 1923 to Bertie Meadows and Grover Cleveland Berryman. Relatives recalled that the first plane that many had ever seen circled the town on the day he was born. Stirred by his interest in model planes and mechanics in general, he enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corps. He trained as a pilot and was assigned to fly the B24 Liberator for the 5th Army in Italy, where he flew 23 missions over Germany and occupied Europe. On one memorable occasion, his aircraft had to drop out of the group due to the loss of an engine from battle damage. Realizing that solitary bombers were sitting targets, he urgently radioed for fighter escort. He and his crew credited their survival that night to the courage and skill of the Tuskegee Airmen who unhesitatingly responded to their radio call. He was released to the Air Force Reserves after WWII but was recalled for the Korean conflict. He flew numerous airplanes including the B24, the C124 Globemaster, the C47 (the old Gooney bird, one of his favorites), and the SA16 Albatross. Friends often recounted the time that he flew a B17 under a bridge in Beaumont, Texas. While based in Bordeaux, France, Berry met Mary Ann Malicki, a recent Penn State graduate who was teaching abroad. A grand courtship ensued as they toured the Swiss and French Alps in his classic Bugatti coupe. Following a year's service in Saudi Arabia, he and Mary Ann were married in Osceola Mills, Pennsylvania, in 1954. His military career spanned the globe from Europe to the Far East, ending with tours of Japan and Vietnam. Lt. Colonel Berryman retired from active duty at McChord AFB in 1970. He completed additional courses at the University of Washington and went on to enjoy a second career as a woodworking and drafting instructor in Georgia for many years. A testament to the "Greatest Generation", he could build, fix, or create almost anything with his well-stocked workshop. He was tremendously skilled in woodworking, lostwax casting, copper enameling and drawing. He could capture faces and buildings in a rough sketch with a few swift strokes of his pencil, delighting countless children (and adults). . He took great joy in his many grandchildren, who enjoyed listening to their Grandpap's stories. In addition to his immense enthusiasm for flying, he was also passionate about European sports cars. He raced in road rallies in several states and drove his 1936 Type 57 Bugatti for 50 years. He was a member of the Bugatti Owner's club and the Sports Car Club of San Juan Island. A complete audiophile, he instilled in his children a lifelong love of music with his epic reel-to-reel classical and folk collection. Well travelled to farflung, desolate regions of the world while piloting for the Air Force, he also enjoyed visiting Europe with his family and friends. The Cotswolds, Devon, Yorkshire, and Derbyshire were particular favorites in England. He will be remembered by his family as a kind, warm and gentle man. "Praising what is lost makes the remembrance dear." (Shakespeare) Berry was preceded in death by his brother Julian Berryman. He is survived by his wife, Mary Ann; his children, Ray Berryman, Elaine Schumy (Erik), Paul Berryman (Pauladeceased), Camille Paulsen (Dirk); his seven grandchildren, Patrick and Pierce Berryman, Alex and Johanna Schumy, Marian, Louisa and Susannah Paulsen; his brother, Don Berryman; and his sisters, Marguerite Brusa, Betty Coleman, Kay Berryman and Ellen Cammack. A funeral Mass was held on July 17, 2015 at St. Francis Catholic Church in Friday Harbor. Interment was at St. Francis cemetery with military funeral honors performed by the Friday Harbor Honor Guard. Remembrances may be sent to the G. C. Berryman Park Bench Memorial Fund (Islanders Bank), or to your favorite charity. http://sanjuanislander.com/obituary/19500/grover-clinton-berryman-died-july-11
  Person ID	I46933	Strong Family Tree
  Last Modified	10 Oct 2023

  
  

  Father	Grover Cleveland Berryman,   b. 16 May 1891, Brookeland, Sabine County, Texas ,   d. 24 May 1991  (Age 100 years)
  Mother	Bertie Meadows,   b. 16 May 1891, Gainesboro, Jackson County, Tennessee ,   d. 17 Dec 1935  (Age 44 years)
  Married	Bef 1917  [1]
  Family ID	F14013	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

• Event Map

  Born - 23 Oct 1923 - Zavalla, Angelina County, Texas  = Link to Google Earth

  
  

• Sources

  [S873] Find A Grave [database online]; http://www.findagrave.com/, (Thousands of contributors submit new listings, updates, corrections, photographs and virtual flowers every hour to the FIND A GRAVE website. When it comes to administrating, building and maintaining the site, Find A Grave is largely operated by its founder, Jim Tipton.), # 80753656 (Reliability: 3).