Sgt-Major U.S.M.C. (ret)
WINDER – Edward Platt Grealish Jr, 76, died Monday, February 16, 2015.
He was born in Augusta on August, 19, 1938. Ed was educated in Sacred Heart Elementary School and the Boys Catholic High School in Augusta. He enlisted in the United States Marine Corps on August 19, 1955, and retired on February 29, 1980. While on active duty, his primary military occupation specialties were infantry, reconnaissance, and drill instructor. This including three tours as a drill instructor, three tours in Vietnam, and other outstanding duty stations. Ed’s decorations include The Bronze Star with Combat “V” for valor, three awards of the Purple Heart Medal, two awards of the Navy Achievement Medal, three awards of the Presidential Unit Citation, and eight awards of the Marine Corps Good Conduct, along with many other unit awards.
Ed was a Gold Legacy Life member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars where he served as an All-State Post Commander, Outstanding District Commander, and All American State Commander. He was also a Life Member of the Purple Heart Association, Life Member of Marine Corps League (Augusta, GA, life member of American Veterans (Statham, GA), member Legion Post 163 (Statham, GA), and Loyal Order of Moose Lodge 262 (Winder, GA). Ed was assigned to many national committees with the National Headquarters, VFW. He fell in love with the National Military Assistance Team, which was just starting up. After this assignment, he was offered the job as the Military Assistance Chairman for a period of 3 years with the state of Georgia, where, through the generosity of the Post, Auxiliaries and Department Headquarters, much monetary help was provided to the deserving military families. It was during this time that Ed realized that the children of many active and deployed service members would be without Christmas. Ed established “Operation Santa” for all the military families of Georgia. He devoted much of his time to collecting toys from VFW members and other organizations and then distributing them all over Georgia. He believed that every child should have something for Christmas.
He is preceded in death by his parents, Edward P. Grealish Sr., and Mary Geraldine (Morton) Grealish, as well as his sister Mary Catherine Sullivan (husband Harold).
He is survived by his beloved wife, Carol Ann Grealish; two sisters, Barbara (the late Bernard) Mulherin and Patricia (Tommy) McElveen; two sons, Edward (Carol) P. Grealish III and Brian (April) P. Grealish, U.S.M.C. (ret.); three daughters, Sharon (Geoff) Reynolds, Judi (Robert) Girardeau, and Lynda (Stacy) Weaver; step-son, Troy Soukup; and step-daughter, Debora (David) Frost; 16 grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.
Funeral Mass, officiated by Father Ted Johnson, will be Friday, February 20, at St. Mathews Catholic Church, 25 Wilkins Road SW, Winder GA 30680, at 11 a.m. Family will receive visitors immediately following Mass at Moose Lodge 262, 434 Hwy 211 NW, Winder GA. Internment will be at Veterans Memorial Cemetery, Milledgeville, at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Ed’s name to the VFW “We Care” fund for Military Families. VFW Headquarters, P.O. Box 3025, Macon GA 31205-3025.
Smith Funeral Home, Winder, is in charge of arrangements.