Joseph Edward Grant

Joseph Grant passed away at his home in Walla Walla on May 28, 2024, after a two-year battle with cancer.

Joe was born on May 16, 1939, to Sam and Irene (Kelly) Grant of Prescott. Joe was a direct descendant of Jonathan Pettyjohn, a local pioneer who established a family farm in 1858 that his family still farms today. Joe was a devoted father and grandfather.

Joe attended Prescott Grade School and graduated from Prescott High School in 1957 with his twin brother John. He attended Seattle University, where he met and married Ardyce Rooney. They later divorced. He earned his Ph.D. in Civil Engineering from Oregon State University in 1965.

After graduation, Joe moved to California, where he worked as a civil engineer at Sandia National Laboratories until he retired in 1998. He then returned to Walla Walla and taught in the engineering program at Walla Walla Community College for ten years. Along with Doris Wood, he started making wines for fun in 2000, and they started the boutique winery Grantwood Winery soon after. He thoroughly enjoyed the meticulous process of making wine. Their red wines earned various awards over the years, including being on The Seattle Times' top 50 wines of the year several times.

Joe was preceded in death by his parents, Samuel and Irene; brothers, John, Bill and Sam Jr.; brother-in-law, Lynn Tompkins; sister-in-law Georgene Grant; nephew, Frank Tompkins; and niece Gina Grant Bull. He is survived by his daughter, Elisa Vallone; son-in-law, Darrin Vallone; grandchildren, Nicholas and Alexandra Vallone; his sister, Mary Grant Tompkins; sisters-in-law Nancy Grant and Patti Grant; and many beloved nephews and nieces.

A memorial service will be held on Tuesday, July 2, 2024, at 10:00 AM at the Chapel of the Herring Funeral Home. A burial at Ivy Cemetery in Prescott will immediately follow. All family and friends are invited to a gathering at 523 Grant Sanders Road, Prescott, following the burial.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Walla Walla Community College Foundation or Seattle University College of Science and Engineering Deans Fund through the Herring Groseclose Funeral Home, 315 W Alder St, Walla Walla WA 99362. In addition, friends and family are invited to sign the online guestbook at www.herringgroseclose.com.