Olander Giles Grandy

Giles Grandy, age 74, of Batesburg-Leesville, passed away peacefully at home on Friday, June 10, 2022.  He was a lifelong resident of Batesburg-Leesville and loved his community dearly.
He was the son of the late Vance and Mary Frances Norris Grandy.  Surviving are his wife of 38 years, Betty;  his children, Christopher Grandy (Candy), Teddy Luckadoo (Mandy), M’Lee Grandy (Dylan Jones); grandchildren, Ashton Summer, Dylan Summer, Carson Luckadoo, Emalyn Luckadoo, Talon Jones, Hazel Jane Jones, and a soon-to-be born grandson Bowie Jones; siblings, Jimmy Grandy (Joan), Vancella Grandy Gantt (John), Joe Grandy (the late Pam Enlow Grandy), and numerous nieces and nephews.
Giles loved the Lord and it was evident in the way he lived his life. Giles was ordained Deacon in 1996 at First Baptist Church of Batesburg. He was an active member of Concord Baptist Church.  He took seriously God’s command to be the leader of his home, and he did so with grace, love and understanding.  Giles had a heart for visiting local nursing facilities and those who were homebound, often taking them to their medical appointments.
He graduated from Batesburg-Leesville High School in 1966 and the University of South Carolina in 1976 where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering.
Giles had a military career that spanned over thirty years serving in both the United States Air Force and the Navy Reserves.  In 1982 he was commissioned a Naval Officer and retired with the rank of Commander.  Commander Grandy’s key assignments during his Naval Reserve Duty included planning and executing the highly successful installation of the ULQ-16 Pulse Analyzer aircraft identifier aboard numerous East and West Coast surface ships; designing and overseeing the installation of a Coastal Defense Command system which was installed on the carrier U.S.S. Yorktown at Patriots Point, Charleston Harbor, SC; and planning and coordinating the Finger Print Local Area Network installation for the FBI facility in Washington, DC.  Commander Grandy’s military decorations included the prestigious Air Force Commendation Medal, Navy Achievement Medal, Armed Forces Reserve Medal, Good Conduct Ribbon, Expert Marksmanship Ribbon in both rifle and pistol, Longevity Ribbon, three awards of Outstanding Unit Ribbon and two awards of the National Defense Service Medal.  
Giles was employed for twenty-five years at the Savannah River Site Nuclear Facility in Aiken, SC where he was a Principal Communications Engineer as a member of the Department of Energy’s Land Mobile Radio Group.  Giles made many close friends at work over the years, and until his health declined, he would continue to meet for weekly breakfast or lunch fellowship time with them.
Giles had a brilliant mind but was a very humble man.  He was never one to boast about his accomplishments. He had many interesting stories to share about events in his life but he never made himself the center of the story.
Giles was a licensed amateur radio enthusiast (WB4FPY). He was an active member of both the Ridge Amateur Radio Club in Batesburg-Leesville and the Dutch Fork Amateur Radio Group in Little Mountain.
Giles loved attending and listening to Gamecock, Clemson, B-L Panther and Gilbert Sports, especially football and baseball. When his children were younger, he enjoyed watching the boys play sports and would assist in coaching.  He was a Dixie Youth Baseball coach as well as Commissioner of Pony League Baseball.  As an Eagle Scout himself, he served as Scoutmaster for Boy Scout Troop 28.  He also was a great “Dance Dad” and “Cheerleading Dad” for daughter M’Lee, and chaperoned every one of her school field trips.
In addition to his love of Amateur (HAM) Radio and sports, Giles enjoyed camping, restoring a 1978 MGB automobile with his good friend Bill Cantwell, and eating out with Betty and their good friends.  Giles loved Bible study and also enjoyed exercising his mind by reading scientific magazines such as Discover, Astronomy, and Brain and Life.
Active pallbearers are Bill Cantwell, John Gantt, Henry Lucius and Julian Mitchell.  Honorary pallbearers are Tommy Carey, Vaughn Ernst, Don Stevenson, members of the Ridge Amateur Radio Club and members of the Dutch Fork Amateur Radio Group.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Concord Baptist Church, 860 North Lee Street, Batesburg-Leesville, SC 29070 or to the Ridge Amateur Radio Club, C/O Roger Williamson, 337 Rawls Drive, Batesburg-Leesville, SC  29070.
Betty, the kids, and the grandkids will greatly miss their husband, daddy and Pa-Paw. He was a “rock” for us, and no matter the circumstances he was always there for us without judgment.
 

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