Grunley mourns the loss of Ginny Grunley, wife of Ken Grunley, CEO
It is with great sadness that we share the news that Virginia M. Grunley, beloved wife of our CEO Kenneth Grunley, passed away on Sunday, February 2nd. Affectionately known to all as Ginny, she served for more than 30 years as Corporate Secretary of the company her father-in-law and husband built. Ginny was Grunley Construction Company’s biggest advocate and immersed herself in its growth, sustainability and reputation for decades.
Ginny was born in Cleveland, Ohio on August 9, 1952. A graduate of Kent State University with a bachelor’s degree in early childhood education, Ginny began her career teaching youngsters in nursery school and kindergarten. She would later serve as a substitute teacher in Montgomery County Public Schools. After marrying Ken Grunley, whom she met while attending Kent State, she eventually turned her attention full time to raising their two children – Adam Grunley and Lauren Grunley – whom she cherished. Having an affinity for the well-being of kids, Ginny also served for many years as a Court Appointed Special Advocate for foster children.
Ginny left an indelible mark on the construction company that bears her family’s name. She remained knowledgeable about the company’s projects, new initiatives and most importantly, its hard-working staff. She was an extraordinarily caring woman who made a point to learn as many employees’ names as possible as well as personal details of their lives and families. It was not uncommon for her to visit project sites and to host company events, where her presence often lit up the room. Until her illness prevented her from doing so, she regularly visited Grunley’s headquarters office where she chatted with staff while giving out lots of hugs. Her benevolent nature and genuine, fun-loving spirit were instrumental in shaping the close-knit culture of the company, particularly in its earliest formative years.
We are grateful for the many contributions Ginny Grunley made to our company – both tangible and intangible, and for her exemplary lessons in civility, decorum, humanity and grace. She will be dearly missed, but never forgotten.
