Obituary of Teddy O. Groggs

Teddy Groggs died December 2, 2018, at home surrounded by his family, just as he wanted. He waged a furious battle against his Leukemia, far surpassing his doctor’s expectations. His zest for life was the reason.

Born March 13, 1942 to Gertrude and Ora Groggs in Chloe, West Virginia. Ted was the youngest of ten children with his mother passing in childbirth delivering the eleventh child while Ted was less than two years old. Ora went on to raise all 10 of these children on his farm in Calhoun County, before marrying Vola Ward, and having two more children.

Dad was very much a self-made man. He left home at fifteen and provided for himself doing odd jobs for room and board in Buckannon, West Virginia which is where, at eighteen, he met the woman that would capture his heart forever, our mom, Charlotte (Myers). After four years of dating and chasing after her to California, they were married in Las Vegas in 1964, and together for over 54 years until his death.

If you knew our Dad, you knew there was nothing he loved more than his family. As big as the family was, he managed to keep track of most of his over 32 nieces and nephews and their countless children. He anxiously awaited deer season every year to head to West Virginia to hunt for the week with his Dad, and all the men in the family. Countless stories have been told of events and happenings from those trips and camp outs over the years, and he enjoyed every minute of it. The family reunion was also one of the events he never missed until the last few years when his health prevented him from going. Many memories of softball on the hill, horseshoes and “camper corrals” at my grandpa’s farm.

If you had the chance to work with our Dad on anything that needed fixed, as most everybody we have known over the years has, you knew you were walking away with it fixed or “Ted-erized”. Either way, your problem was solved.

My Dad never missed a sporting event that my brother and I were involved in and cheered and encouraged our friends like they were his own. Many trips with a truck bed full of kids headed for ice cream after ball games were had with him. As many of our friends would confess, my parents were there for so many of them at times when it seemed no one else was. Between “jam sessions” upstairs, Wiffle ball games in the backyard and, a thousand drop off and pick ups at skating rinks, he loved all of it.

He and my mother handled everything together and were great friends as well as spouses. They set the example for my brother and I, and many others I’m sure. He was a best friend to my brother and the best Dad a girl could ever ask for and possessed “Papa” skills that were untouchable. We will be mournful in his passing but forever touched by his presence, until we see him again.

He is preceded in death by his parents, his brothers Bob, Paul, Frank and Bud. Sisters Sue, Jean and Lottie. He is survived by our mother, Charlotte, and his children Eddie (Joyce) Groggs of Cuyahoga Falls and Shelley (Joseph) Lahtonen of Tallmadge. His grandchildren, which were his everything, Julie (Mike) Shenise, Jacob (Fayth) Lahtonen, Sarah, Matthew, Susan, Michael and Nathan Groggs. He also became a great-grandfather five weeks ago with the birth of Lillie Ann to Jacob and Fayth. He is also survived by his sisters Norma Nicholas of Spencer, W.Va., Loretta Gray of Elyria and brothers Bill (Debbie) and Mike (Pam) of Buckhannon. A special thanks to the Infusion Nursing staff at the Jean and Milton Cooper Pavilion and to Crossroads Hospice Care and their staff, which were both remarkable in their care and attention to my Dad and our family.

Dad had a special connection to all his grandchildren, but an extra special relationship to Susan. She has been his personal companion, snapchat photographer, and his traveling buddy for the length of his illness. She is a special person to all of us for this and gets a special place in my dad’s heart, of this I am sure. We love and miss you already, Dad. Now go, meet your Mom and get those deer stories going.

Friends are invited to Redmon Funeral Home for visitation Wednesday 6 to 8 PM, where service will be held Thursday 12:30 PM. Friends may also call from 11:30 AM to service time. Burial Silver Springs Cemetery.