Ronald Wayne Grove
August 15, 1923 – March 26, 2014
Ronald Wayne Grove, 90, of Centralia, died Wednesday morning, March 26, 2014, at Missouri Veterans' Home in Mexico.
He was born in Jetmore, Kan., on Aug. 15, 1923, the son of Elijah Franklin and Inez Bell (Dansel) Grove.
On June 22, 1952, he was married in Sweet Springs, Mo., to Norma Virginia Wright, who preceded him in death in June 2011.
Ronald's family moved from Hodgeman County, Kan. to Waverly, Mo. in 1935. He attended junior high and high school in Waverly, Mo. Just prior to his enlistment in the U.S. Army Air Corps in November 1942, he worked at Bell Aircraft Manufacturing in Buffalo, N.Y. with his brother John.
He served as an aerial gunner aboard a B-17 in the European Theatre of Operations with 8th Air Force, 95th Bomb Group, 335th Bomb Squadron, stationed at Horham, England. He was shot down in April 1944, interned in Switzerland, and escaped interment in November 1944. After repatriation to the U.S., he trained as an aerial gunner on B-29s in preparation for deployment to the Pacic Theatre of Operations, until the cessation of hostilities.
After the war, Ronald worked on commercial barge trafc on the Missouri River and as a right of way agent for Kansas City Power and Light, before beginning a 42-year career with Sinclair Oil Company in Mexico, Mo. He served as pipeline distribution terminal manager at the Mexico facility from the mid-1970s until his retirement in 1992.
He was a faithful member of the Centralia United Methodist Church, a lifetime member in good standing of the Moolah Shrine Temple; Freemason's Lodge #61 of Waverly, Mo.; Arch Mason Chapter #27 of Mexico, Mo.; Charles Waller Post 113 of the American Legion in Centralia, Mo.; the Eighth Air Force Historical Society; the 95th Bomb Group Memorials Foundation; and the Veterans of Foreign Wars.
Survivors include his son, Gerald Wayne Grove of Tulsa, Okla.; daughter, Karen Lynn Grove of Centralia; grandson, Jeremy Grove, granddaughter-in-law, Leanna, and great-granddaughter, Evangelene of Columbia, Mo.; granddaughter, Ashley Grove of Lee's Summit, Mo.; brother, Cecil Grove of Sedalia, Mo. and sisters, Mary (Grove) Drunert of Waverly, Mo, and Shirley (Grove) Barr of Little Rock, Ark.
He was preceded in death by an infant sister, Marjorie; his parents, brothers, John, Daniel, Tommy, and Kenton; and a sister, Seraphinia.
Visitation will be at Fenton Funeral Chapel, Centralia, Sunday evening, March 30, from 5 to 7 p.m.
Funeral services will be held at Centralia United Methodist Church in Centralia, Monday morning, March 31, at 10 a.m. with Rev. Sandra Schaller, Pastor, United Methodist Church of Centralia, ofciating.
Entombment at Memorial Park Cemetery, 1217 Business Loop 70 West in Columbia.
The family suggests memorials to the Missouri Veterans' Home, #1 Veterans Drive, Mexico, Mo. 65265 or to the Centralia United Methodist Church, 715 Orchard Street, Centralia, Mo. 65240.
Pallbearers will be Jeremy Grove, Ray Keplar, Chris Theissen, Mark Schlotzhauer, Randy Meyers, and Dennis Whitaker.
Fenton Funeral Chapel in Centralia is in charge of arrangements.
Mexico Ledger (MO) - Friday, March 28, 2014
SPOUSE AND CHILDREN Norma Virginia Wright wife Gerald Wayne Grove son Karen Lynn Grove daughter
PARENTS AND SIBLINGS Tommy brother Kenton brother Seraphinia sister Elijah Franklin Grove father John brother
Cecil Grove brother Mary Grove Drunert sister Shirley Grove Barr sister Marjorie sister
John brother
Daniel brother
EXTENDED FAMILY Leanna granddaughter Ashley Grove granddaughter Jeremy Grove grandchild