William Edward “Bill” Grantham

William Edward “Bill” Grantham, 95, of Beaumont, died Monday, May 9, 2022, at Calder Woods, Beaumont. He was born in Corpus Christi on July 14, 1926. He was the son of Oscar and Mamie Grantham. Bill graduated from St. Anthony High School in 1944 and attended Lamar University before joining the United States Army Air Corps.

He married his high school sweetheart, Johnnie Conley. He and his wife, Johnnie, started their company Sanitary Supply Co, Inc., in 1966, after being Vice-President with Sanitary Chemical, Inc. for many years. Bill had been a manager for Sanitary Chemical Lab, which was founded in 1937. When the owner sold out due to poor health, Grantham bought the janitorial products line and opened Sanitary Supply on 6790 College in Beaumont. Bill and his son, Larry Grantham, now ran this successful business together. Their customer base has grown considerably, and their territory has expanded over the years. Today, Sanitary Supply serves about a hundred-mile radius including Beaumont, Southeast Texas, Southwest Louisiana, and Baytown. They were the first company of their type in this area. They sell to many of the leading industries including schools, government entities, industrial plants, and wholesale and retail customers. Bill would say, “Our business is founded on service” and that “I’m just happy to be in this area to serve all our customers”.

He was a devoted husband and father and took great interest and pride in his son and daughter, three grandchildren, and seven great-grandchildren. He and his wife began traveling in their many motorhomes they had purchased since 1975. They had traveled to every state in the U.S. and Canada while playing golf along the way. Bill loved playing golf with his friends at the Beaumont Country Club and having lunch with his two lunch bunch buddies. He had many hobbies including traveling, golf, fishing, gardening, and woodwork. Bill was a Deacon at Calder Baptist Church and a member of mixed doubles Sunday School Class. For many years, he was a member of the West Beaumont Rotary Club of Beaumont where he served as President and a Paul Harris Fellow. Bill was President of the Business Professional Men’s Club, President of Sales and Marketing Executive Club, and Chairman of Schlesinger Nursing Home. Bill served on the board of the Symphony of Southeast Texas and many other boards.

Survivors include his wife, Johnnie Grantham; son, Larry Grantham and his wife, Susan Elizabeth, of Beaumont; daughter, Cookie Schenck and her husband, Barry, of Hunt; brother, Frank Grantham and his wife, Arlene, of Beaumont; grandchildren, Jennifer Buckley Hall and her husband, Ryan; Lindsey Buckley Leonard and her husband, Kyle; and Larry W. Grantham, Jr. and his wife, Amanda; and great-grandchildren, Hank Hall, Wes Hall, Luke Hall, Meredith Leonard, Charlotte Leonard, Morgan Grantham, and Emma Grantham.

He is preceded in death by his parents and sisters, Betty Pearson, June Braquet, and Pat Acker.

A gathering of Mr. Grantham’s family and friends will be from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m., Thursday, May 12, 2022, at Broussard’s, 2000 McFaddin Avenue, Beaumont. His funeral service will be at 11:00 a.m., Friday, May 13, 2022, at Calder Baptist Church, 1005 North 11^th Street, Beaumont, with his interment will follow at Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Beaumont.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Bill and Johnnie Grantham Scholarship in Nursing at Lamar University, P. O. Box 10081, Beaumont, Texas 77710-0081 or Calder Baptist Church, 1005 North 11^th Street, Beaumont, Texas 77702.