Mary Grimes Gitelman

On May 1, 2022, Mary Martha Grimes Gitelman passed peacefully from this life, while at home in Dallas, with her daughter by her side. Mary Martha, while not born in Bentonville, resided in Bentonville, Ark., most of her young life and grew up in the large and loving family of Walter and Ina Grimes. As a teenager, some of Mary's happiest moments were at the helm of an airplane accompanied by either one of her instructors or her uncle Payne. Mary loved to fly and became a licensed pilot at the age of 18. Being a majorette while attending Bentonville High School came in a close second to being a pilot and was tied with her love of roller-skating. She spent many happy hours at the roller rink located on Rainbow Curve. Professionally drawn to banking, Mary became a teller at the Bank of Bentonville. After several years in that position, Mary moved to Dallas. In Dallas, she was immediately hired by the Mercantile National Bank, where she worked in the loan department. The Mercantile was located across the street from Neiman Marcus, the store that could only be described as Mary's most favorite place in the world. In 1952, Mary met and married Aaron S. "Al" Gitelman, and in 1956, their daughter, Caron, was born. Mary dedicated countless hours to taking Stereo Realist pictures and shooting movies of Caron's years at Hockaday. Photography was her passion and she was exceptionally good at it. Mary was an active member of the Southern Methodist University Mother's Club both during and after the years Caron spent at SMU. Politics and currents events were extremely important to Mary and she worked on the campaigns of both Ronald Reagan and H. Ross Perot. Travel was also a large part of Mary's life. She and Al enjoyed traveling abroad and took several cruises while Caron worked for Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines. Sometimes, travel involved what she referred to as her treasured '65, the 1965 White Cadillac Convertible, the car that Al lovingly gave her on her birthday. She was an active member of the Cadillac LaSalle Club for many years, participating in road trips and winning first prize with the '65 in competitions. While living in Dallas, Mary was able to return to Bentonville, frequently in the '65, to attend her high school reunions or spend time with her family, whose members were numerous and a source of joy. Known for her writing talents, Mary wrote the Grimes Family history for the Benton County History (book), published in 1991. Due to her incredible memory, her family was able to rely on her for stories, information, and history until her final days. Mary is survived by her daughter, Caron Grant of Dallas, Texas; her sister, Meza Grimes Harris; her brother, Richard Grimes; her niece, Aricka Harris Finger, all of Rogers, Ark.; and many nieces and nephews in Arkansas and throughout the United States, all of whom she loved deeply. Plans for a memorial service will be announced at a future date.