Fred F. Groce
July 11, 1914 ~ July 20, 2004
Resided in:
Asheville, NC
Asheville funeral director Fred F. Groce, Sr., 90, of 7 Naylor Road, Asheville, died Tuesday, July 20, 2004.
Mr. Groce was born in Candler July 11, 1914, to the late Reverend. T.A. Groce, Sr. and Elizabeth Hunt Groce. He was also preceded in death by his brothers, J. Robert Groce, Thomas A. Groce, Rev. W. Harold Groce, Alvin “Rip” Groce, and Willis H. "Bill” Groce.
He was a graduate of Sand Hill High School and attended Weaver College before graduating from Asheville-Biltmore College. He worked with Dunn & Groce Funeral Home in the mid-1930’s before attending Williams Institute of Mortuary Science in Kansas City, Kansas where he graduated in 1937.
In September, 1941, he married June Barger of Asheville and enlisted in the Army shortly after the outbreak of WW II where he served three years in the Army Medical Corps.
Following the war he returned to Asheville and rejoined his family and associates at Groce Funeral Home. He was a charter member of Abernethy United Methodist Church where he was former chairman of the Finance Committee, former chairman of the Board of Trustees, and member of the Administrative Board. He was also a charter member of the Asheville Jaycees, charter member of the West Asheville American Legion Post 335, past chairman of the Buncombe County Welfare Board, and former secretary and president of the Candler Lions Club.
He volunteered as a senior arbitrator for the Better Business Bureau of Asheville and Western North Carolina.
Mr. Groce co-owned and operated Groce Funeral Home for many years and maintained the position of Corporate Vice-President through retirement and until the time of his death.
He enjoyed his family, traveling, fishing, and relaxing at Lake Lure.
His family include his wife of 63 years, June B. Groce; four children, Fred F. Groce, Jr. and his wife Cindy of Asheville, Laura Thomas and her husband John of Charlotte, Martha Hughes Davis and her husband James of Atlanta, GA, and John A. Groce and his wife Lori of Houston, TX; six grandchildren, Robin G. Fulk, Lindsey G. Whitlatch, Virginia Hunt Groce, Liza Hughes Mooney, Anna Patton Hughes and Sarah Rebecca Groce; three great-grandchildren, Catherine Ford Whitlatch, Samuel Bradley Whitlatch, and Elizabeth Patton Mooney; and one brother, Hugh W. Groce of Asheville.
A funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m. Friday in the Patton Avenue chapel of Groce Funeral Home with the Rev. Dr. Henry R. (Rusty) Inman officiating.
Private interment for the family will follow at Green Hills Cemetery.
His family will receive friends at the funeral home one hour prior to the service and request that in lieu of flowers memorials be made to the Abernethy United Methodist Church Air Conditioning Fund, 1418 Patton Avenue, Asheville, NC 28806.
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His Dad T.A. Groce was my Pastor for many years at Oak Hill Methodist.
Knew Fred when he lived at the Parsonage on Mount Vista Rd.
Just a note to let you know you all are in our prayers. May God continue to richly Bless you and your family.
Martha and Family Members, I have known so many of the Groce Family through the years. You may not remember me but just after Wachovia Bank transferred me to Charlotte in 1962 Chucky and you moved there and you worked in my department for a short time. Regardless of age, health, or any other circumstance we are never ready to lose our loved ones and particularly a parent. The only comfort comes from that Faith in the Sovereignty of God and the manifested concern of caring friends. We are thinking of you, your Mother, and family at this time. Joe Clark
To the Gorce Family, my thoughts and prayers are with you. Thru out my life I have such good memories of Fred and his brothers. My dad when he was alive and active in West Asheville Baptist Church interfaced with Groce and especially with Fred and always thought he was a special friend. Fred has left his legacy not only to his family but to the Groce Funeral Family and the Community. To you Fred Jr. as we have not seen each other sence our high school days, I know your dad will be missed but I also know you have great memories. My prayers are with you and may God confort you and continue to bless you and your family.
Fred & Cindy:
Fred, sorry to see that your father died. Brenda and I send you our thoughts and prayers at this time.
Cordially,
Mike & Brenda Craig
Charlotte, NC
Dear Family,
Fred will be surely missed.
Our visits to Lake Lure will not be the same without Fred coming over to say hello. Fred was a gentle sweet man and I am glad he was part of my life.
Sincere Sympathy,
Sandi Thompson
Always remember that Life is a Treasure as your loved one is. May you find the comfort in knowing that peace within is upon your loved one and always cherish the memories. God Bless You
To The Groce Family,
My prayers are with you at this time of loss. You know that my Dad (Max Carland)loved you all very much and you all were apart of our family as well. The Groce Family was good to my Dad and family. I really don’t get to see many of you since I don’t live there anymore. I always thought alot of June and Fred, you all will be in my prayers and may God bless each one of you in a special way during this time.
Mr. Groce ment so much to our family and our church. Thanks so much for the good and faithful service to God. His smile will not be forgotten.
Mr Groce and his family mean faithfulness and kindness. His continued kindness to me growing up at the church gave me a wonderful example of what I hope my life will be. Peace to your family. Our prayers are with you.
To the Groce Family,
Please accept our heartfelt condolences in the death of your beloved Fred Sr.
The Autrey family will always appreciate his kindess and compassion when Lee and Ruby went to be with the Lord.
Fred was a truely remarkable man and will be remembered fondly by those of us who knew him through the years.
Our loss is Heaven’s gain!
Dear Groce Family, I have so many nice memories of Fred and his generosity, kindness, community spirit, and friendship to his community, family, Church, and my own family. I offer prayers and thoughts to you all at this sad time. Jane Anne Luther
Dear June & Family
I will always remember the wonderful times we all had a the Rhododendron Club and all of the other great memories of Fred. Our condolences to you and your family.
Sincerely
Ray and Kay Zachery
Dear June & Famly
My sincerest thoughts, condolences and prayers are with you and your family.
Betty Young
This seems a bit impersonal, but just want to let you know that I’m thinking of you all. I’m hoping that you are celebrating the good memories of the life of a very special, dear man. He leaves behind a wonderful family. I’m so happy to be able to make a gift to Abernathy Church in memory of ‘Mr. Fred’.
My family and I offer our Condolences,and Prayers.
Although I did not know Mr. Groce personaly my family has used the services of this funeral home several times during my lifetime and I did attend school in the first grade with his son, Fred Groce Jr. Both my brother Maurice, now deceased, and I also knew his wife Cindy in high school. I’m sorry and want to extend my condolences to the family.
Dear June & family,
I have so many wonderful memories of Fred & your whole family! Living across from you, on Tampa Ave for many years, your home was like my second home! Fred will surely be missed! My prayers are with you at this trying time.
Love,
Vicki
June,
We love you and want you to know that you are in our hearts, thoughts, and prayers. May God continue to bless you in the many ways you have blessed him and your family and friends. You are loved by so many, all of whom you have touched in some point of their lives. Fred will be truely missed by our family, but we know he is home now with our Lord Jesus Christ. All of our love goes to you and your family.
We remember fondly Fred and send sympathy to the family. May the Lord sustain you each one.
On behalf of the Directors and Staff of Green Hills Cemetery,we send our condolences and prayers to the Groce family.
Carol E. Pennell
Chairman, Board of Directors
Green Hills Cemetery
Our deepest sympathy to June and the entire Groce family. Our families have been close friends for many, many years and you have always been there when we needed you. Esther is just home from surgery and was unaware of Fred’s passing until this morning. May God bless you all.
Fred & Cindy,
Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.
Dear June and Family:
Mother and I want you to know that you and your family are in our thoughts and prayers as you experience the sadness and grief upon Fred’s death. He, and all of the members of the Groce family, mean a great deal to the Justice family. I remember fondly the impression he made on our lives growing up in Abernethy Church. He was a true Christian and friend to many, and we give thanks to God for his good life. May you and your family continue to feel and experience God’s love and comfort during this time of loss.
God bless!
Henry and Nina Lee Justice
Mrs. Groce, Fred, Cindy and Family:
Please accept our sympathy. We just found out about Mr. Groce’s passing and want all of you to know how deeply sorry we are. He was a gentleman in the true sense of the word
We are sure that he, Dad and Mom are together again – – sharing stories and good times at Lake Lure.
May the Lord give you peace.
With love,
Gary & Jan
My condolances to this sweet family who have lost a dear and sweet man, Mr. Fred. The Bentley family will never forget him.
May God comfort you in His loving arms and fill you with His Peace during this difficult time and in the days to come.
With Love and Prayers,
Otto DeBruhl and Staff
MY PRAYERS AND THOUGHTS GO OUT TO THE GROCE FAMILY…MR GROCE WAS A FINE PERSON,,WHEN I WORKED AT SKYLAND OLDS..AND HE WOULD COME IN,HE ALWAYS MADE ME LAUGH,HE LOVED MY LAUGH…I NOW WORK AT MATTHEWS FORD,AND THAT WAS WHERE I SEEN HIM LAST,,HE BROUGHT ME A CALENDAR..HE KNEW I LIKED THEM…HE STILL HAD HIS SENSE OF HUMOR..HE WAS A VERY CARING PERSON…HE WILL BE MISSED BY ALL WHO KNEW HIM..WE HAVE TO REMEMBER HE IS IN A MUCH BETTER PLACE,,DALE,,I AM THINKING OF YOU AND YOUR FAMILY AT THIS TIME,,GOD BLESS,,AND ENCIRCLE YOU IN HIS LOVING ARMS,CHERISH HIS MEMORIES,THEY ARE FOREVER….
God Bless your family
Fred and I shared many laughs during my stay in Asheville. From the entire staff at Washburn & Dorsey, we send our sympathy.
Diane & Bill Clark- Friends of Martha & Jim Davis in Atlanta