COLUMBIA – Funeral services for former Brownwood resident, William George Groce Jr., 86, will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, January 2, 2011, at Caughman-Harman Funeral Home, Irmo/St. Andrews Chapel, with interment in Bush River Memorial Gardens. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service.
Mr. Groce was born September 13, 1924, in Fort Worth, Texas, and passed away following a brief illness on Wednesday, December 29, 2010.
He was a son of the late Willie George and Myrtle Shelton Groce. He enlisted in the Army Air Corps at age 18 and, after OCS training, served as a B24 bomber pilot in the European Theater of World War II. After WWII, he enrolled and graduated from Texas Christian University with a bachelor’s degree in geology. His career of 27 years, until retirement, was with USDA Soil Conservation Service, which brought him to Brownwood in 1957, where he lived until 1965. His children and grandchildren all grew up in Brownwood. Later in life, at age 51, his interest led him to achieving a Brown Belt in Tae Kwon Do. His love of the outdoors also led him into regular trail riding on his motorcycle with a group of friends. Toward the end of his life, his main focus was on the investment world and keeping up with all events financial.
Mr. Groce is survived by his wife of 42 years, Josephine Groce of Columbia; son, Vance Groce and wife Donna of Charlotte, NC; daughter, Mary Beth Smith and husband Charles of Fairview, TX; stepson, James Hopkins of Lexington, SC; brother, Leroy Groce and wife Betty of Fort Worth, TX; five grandchildren, including Vicki Pierce of Lewisville, TX, Steve Pierce and wife Noel of Frisco, TX, and Sarah, Juliana and Bryan Groce, all of Charlotte, NC, and two great-grandchildren. He was predeceased by his parents, and son, Roland Groce.
“Dub”, as he was known all his life, enjoyed his years in Brownwood, and returned regularly as long as his children and grandchildren lived there.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Texas Christian University, 2800 South University Drive, Fort Worth, TX 76129 or the Alzheimer’s Association , 3223 Sunset Blvd. Suite 100, West Columbia, SC 29169. www.caughmanharmanfuneralhome.net