Don is survived by his wife, Betty L. (Caraway) Grooms whom he married August 28, 1948; son & daughter-in-law, David & Rosemary Grooms of San Diego, California; daughter, Roxanne Grooms of San Diego, California; grandsons, Justin, Tyler, Logan and Connor Grooms; brother, Wayne G. Grooms of Cleveland and numerous nieces and nephews.
In addition to his parents, Don is also preceded in death by a daughter, Jennifer Lynn Grooms; brother, Gordon Grooms; and a sister, Betty Webb.
Don retired from the Ohio State Highway Patrol where he was a State Trooper with 26 years of service. Don served in the U.S. Navy during WWII. Don was a member of the First Presbyterian Church in Greenville. He served on the Greenville City Council; served as Safety Director of Greenville and served on several Boards of the community. Don became a member of the Georgetown Masonic Lodge No. 72, Georgetown, Ohio, in 1962 and transferred his membership to Greenville Masonic Lodge No. 143 in 1972. Don was a member of the Greenville Masonic Craft Club and was a Past President, Vice-President and Secretary/Treasurer of the Club; the Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite, Valley of Dayton, of which he was a 32nd Degree Mason; Antioch Shrine of Dayton; and the Darke County Shrine Club. Don was also a member of the Liars Club and Greenville Elks Lodge.
A memorial service will be held at 10:30 A.M. on Tuesday, February 7, 2012 at the First Presbyterian Church, 114 East Fourth Street Greenville with Rev. Dr. John Person officiating. Burial will be at the convenience of the family in Cherry Fork Cemetery in Cherry Fork, Ohio. The family will receive friends on Monday, February 6, 2012 from 5:00 to 8:00 P.M. at Zechar Bailey Funeral Home, Greenville and Tuesday morning from 9:30 to 10:30 A.M. at the church. A Masonic memorial service will be conducted by the Greenville Masonic Lodge at 7:45 P.M. on Monday at the funeral home followed by the Scottish Rite Ring Service and Liars Club Service. Memorial contributions may be made to Shriners Hospital, Brethren Retirement Community Benevolent Fund or State of the Heart Hospice. Condolences for the family may be expressed through www.zecharbailey.com
