John Arthur Gratop

AIKEN, SC, Mr. John A. Gratop, 66, of Aiken, passed away Friday, April 24, 2009, ending a nearly 2-year battle with cancer. The Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Wednesday at 11:00 Am at St. Mary Help of Christians Catholic Church with Rev. Fr. James L. LeBlanc celebrant. Final prayers and commendations will follow in Calvary Cemetery. Born to Donald, who died Oct. 8, 2008, and Dorthy Gratop in Toledo, OH, Mr. Gratop grew up looking after his younger brother, Don. They enjoyed sports, sailing and home improvements. He loved playing basketball and football. He graduated from Central Catholic High School in Toledo in 1960 before beginning his retail career as a stock boy. Mr. Gratop rose quickly through the retail ranks at the Mercantile Store before becoming a store manager at J.B. White’s and later Richs. After 25 years in retail, Mr. Gratop found his true vocation in education. He received three Masters Degrees in Guidance, Educational Psychology and Administration. He served as assistant director of the Aiken County Career and Technology Center for 10 years and went on to become the founding principal of Fox Creek Charter High School. Mr. Gratop was active in various community, civic, and educational organizations. In his spare time he enjoyed traveling with his family and coaching numerous t-ball, basketball and soccer teams. He was especially fond of long walks on the beach and tantalizing flavors of ice cream. In spite of numerous accomplishments, he was most proud of his family. Mr. Gratop, husband of Kathy, son of Dorthy, Toledo, OH; dedicated father of four sons, Michael, Atlanta, GA, Douglas, Aiken, Matthew, Charlotte, NC, Christopher, Aiken; first wife, Suzanne, Aiken; loving brother to Donald, Sylvania, OH; step father to Brian Herring, Virginia Beach, VA and Logan Herring (William) Brown, Aiken; devoted uncle to Lyndsey and Kristin. He was an extraordinary man and will be missed but never forgotten. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the Savannah River Cancer Foundation, P.O. Box 3694, Aiken, SC 29802, or Aiken County Parks and Recreation, 902 Vaucluse Rd., Aiken, SC 29801, or the Aiken Council on Aging Meals on Wheels Program, 159 Morgan St., Aiken, SC 29801. Mr. Gratop’s online guest book can be signed at www.shellhousefuneralhome.com. A prayer service will be held at 6:00 PM Tuesday evening with visitation to follow until 8:00 PM at Shellhouse Funeral Home, Inc., 924 Hayne Ave., Aiken, SC To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of John Arthur Gratop, please visit our flower store.