Richard Franklin Groves was born Dec. 30, 1924 to Wilfred A. and Helen G. Alexander Groves. He died Sept. 24, 2006 and is buried in Graceland Cemetery, Webster City, IA.
Dick served with the U.S. Navy during World War II in the V-12 program at Marquette University, Purdue University, Columbia University and on the destroyer, USS Cowell (DD-547) as an Engineering Officer.
Obituary:
Richard F. Groves, 81, of Webster City, died Sunday, September 24, 2006 at the Hamilton Hospital. Memorial services will be held 2:00 p.m. Thursday September 28, 2006 at the First Congregational United Church of Christ with Rev. Howard Hunt officiating. Visitation will be from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Wednesday at the Foster Funeral & Cremation Center. Private burial will be held at Graceland Cemetery.
Richard Franklin Groves, son of Wilfred A. and Helen Alexander Groves, was born on December 30, 1924 on the family farm home in Kamrar, Iowa. He attended Grandview Country School and graduated from Webster City Lincoln High School in 1943. He was inducted into the U.S. Navy in August of 1943, and served until 1946 in the V-12 program at Marquette University, Purdue University, Columbia University and on the destroyer, USS Cowell as an Engineering Officer. In December of 1945, he married Donna Wiggam at Long Beach, California. He was discharged from the U.S. Navy in August of 1946 and again attended Purdue University until moving to the farmstead south of Webster City where he and his family resided until his death.
Dick is survived by his wife, Donna and two daughters, Lee A. O’Brien and son-in-law, Dr. William O’Brien of Newark, Delaware, and Mary Groves Loucks and son-in-law, Dr. Eric D. Loucks of Austin, Texas; grandson, Richard William O’Brien and wife Rita; two great-grandchildren, Jacob Michael and Angelina Margaret O’Brien of Merchantville, New Jersey; brothers, Bill Groves of Webster City, Jim Groves and family of Wellsville, New York; nephews and niece, George Groves, Wil Groves and Margaret Groves Shepard all of Webster City; niece Anne Groves of Indianapolis, IN; and nephews, John Groves of Buffalo, NY and G.W. Groves of Philadelphia, PA.
He was a lifelong member of the Congregational, UCC in Webster City and was very active in civic affairs. He was a member of the Joint County School System for 18 years, United Coop board member for 12 years, AGRI Industries board member for 9 years, Kiwanis Outstanding Farmer of the Year in 1983, a longtime 4-H leader for the N W Future Farmerettes, Wallace’s Farmer, Master Farmer in 1984 with his brother, Bill. He was also an active member of the morning Kiwanis, ABI, and many church boards, Heifer Project and Habitat for Humanity. Dick was a member and chairman of the Courthouse Rebuilding Committee and Friends of the KYL and Antique Tractor Society.
Dick went to the Ukraine in 1993 as a member of a U.S. Delegation to teach the Ukrainians about American Agriculture, as a part of “Farm Ukraine.”
His hobbies included golfing, fishing, Civil War history, and was an antique tractor enthusiast.
Memorial contributions may be made to Heifer Project, International; Habitat for Humanity; Save the children or the Endowment Fund at First Congregational Church, Webster City.
Source: Daily Freeman Journal, Webster City, IA - Sept. 27, 2006
