Ulysses S. Grant, 95, of Evansville, died at 7:30 a.m. Tuesday, May 22, 2007, in Columbus, where he had been living with his daughter, Diane Holdeman.
U. S. graduated from Bosse High School in 1929. He attended Evansville College majoring in electrical engineering until the college discontinued that program due to the Depression. At that time he left college and went to work for Sterling Brewery, initially as a chemist and later as assistant brew master. During the Second World War he was employed making airplane parts at Curtis Wright in St. Louis. In 1944, he returned to Evansville to work for his father at Bud's Plumbing Inc. When his father died unexpectedly in 1947, U. S. assumed the ownership and management of the plumbing firm. Under his leadership the company grew in size and reputation. U. S. attributed his business' success to the knowledge and work ethic of his employees and to their loyalty which was fostered by the close relationship he had with them. He sold Bud's Plumbing and retired in 1991 at the age of 80.
He was an 89-year-member of Bethel United Church of Christ where he was active as a council member and deacon, served on numerous committees, and drove the church bus on Sunday mornings. He was a member of the original cast of the Last Supper Tableau and drama produced by Bethel Church and performed the role of Doubting Thomas for 45 years. While living in Columbus he attended the Columbus Reformed Presbyterian Church.
U.S. was a longtime member of the Evansville Quarterback Club, Civitans and the Evansville and Indiana Plumbing Contractors Associations. He was a charter member of Rolling Hills Country Club where he played golf regularly until age 92.
An avid outdoorsman, he hunted annually in Nebraska, fished from the Gulf of Mexico to northern Canada, and camped with his family all over the United States. He and his wife loved traveling and meeting new people. They visited 64 countries, many of them multiple times.
Born in Evansville in 1911, he was the son of Albert and Clara Vogel Grant. He married Doyce Shrote in November 1934. They were married 72 years before she died in December 2006. He is survived by his sister, Mary Lou Hood, of Taylor, S.C.; daughters, Barbara (John) Wyatt, of Lake St. Louis, Mo., Diane (Richard) Holdeman, of Columbus, and Linda (Thomas) Schneider, of Lawrenceburg; grandchildren, Richard B. (Amy) Holdeman, Robert G. Holdeman, Thomas E. (Amy) Holdeman, John W. Holdeman and Jennifer Wyatt (Alan) Haines; and six great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his wife and a grandson, John C. Wyatt, in 1987.
Funeral services will be conducted at 10 a.m. Tuesday, May 29, 2007, at Boone Funeral Home East Chapel — 5330 Washington Avenue, with Reverend Dr. Richard B. Holdeman officiating. Burial will be in Sunset Memorial Park Cemetery.
Friends may call from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m. Monday, May 28, 2007, at Boone Funeral Home — East Chapel.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Hospice of South Central Indiana Inc.,
2626 17th Street, Columbus, IN 47201.
