William F. Groh

William F. (Bill) Groh, 86, of New Philadelphia, Ohio died Thursday, April 20, 2006 in Union Hospital at Dover following a brief illness.

Bill was a longtime employee of the Standard Oil Company and BP Oil Company and operated service stations in the area for many years. Following retirement, he worked for the New Philadelphia Police Department as a school crossing guard for several years.

Born July 29, 1919 in Dover, he was the son of the late William and Clara Widder Groh.

Bill was a member of the Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church in Dover and was a life member of the Dover Elks Lodge. He was a 1937 graduate of Dover High School and served as a Sgt. in the US Army with the 436th Bomb Squadron during World War II. He was also an outstanding baseball pitcher having been invited to try out with the St. Louis Cardinals. He was a member of the first baseball team to play under lights in Dover. He especially loved fishing and enjoyed fishing in Canada. He and his wife, Effie spent several years in Lakeland, Florida following retirement.

In addition to his wife, Effie Smith Groh with whom he would have celebrated 60 years of marriage this June 11, he is survived by a son, William Groh and his companion, Lynda Williams of Dover and his daughter, Judy (Tom) Widder of Moorefield, West Virginia; three grandchildren, Amy Groh, Hannah and Sarah Widder and a great grandson, Tyler W. Groh along with several nieces and nephews.

In addition to his parents, Bill was preceded in death by his stepfather, William Byers, three brothers, Gary, Cloyd, and Paul Groh and two sisters, Opal Yellin and Miriam Keller.

A funeral service celebrating Bill�(TM)s life will be held Monday, April 24, 2006 at 11am in the Toland-Herzig Funeral Home & Crematory in Dover with Pastor Jim Lewis and Pastor Marlin Drake officiating. A military service will follow the funeral at the funeral home. The family invites friends to the Toland-Herzig Monarch Center following the service. Cremation will follow the service and burial will take place at a later date in the Dover Burial Park. Friends will be received Sunday from 2-5 pm at the funeral home. Those unable to attend or who may wish to express a fond memory of Bill may sign the online register book by visiting the “obituaries” link on the funeral home website at www.tolandherzig.com

Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of Tuscarawas County, 201 W. 3rd St., Dover, Ohio 44622

Toland-Herzig, Dover
330 343-6132