Beverly Lettelle McGruder

Beverly Lettelle McGruder, age 85, a loving husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather passed away peacefully on Sunday, February 25, 2018 in Cartersville, Georgia. Bev was born on April 26, 1932 in Richmond, Virginia to James Samuel McGruder and Bessie McCaw DeSylvia McGruder. He was preceded in death by his wife, Winifred Ann Goode and siblings Virginia, Aubrey, Thelma, Doris, Helen, Ruby, Leroy and Constance. Bev and Winnie were married on Valentine’s Day 1953.

Bev attended Richmond Public Schools and graduated from John Marshall High School in 1951 meeting Winnie when he was just 15 years old. Bev went on to attend the Virginia Military Institute graduating with a degree in Civil Engineering in 1955. He was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers upon graduation and Bev and Winnie’s journey together officially began.

Over the course of the next 28 years, Bev served in numerous posts throughout the United States as well as in Germany and Korea including a stop at Stanford University where he earned an advanced degree in Industrial Engineering. As a young major, one of Bev’s responsibilities was to assign soldiers to Vietnam and, feeling the gravity of those decisions, in 1968 he assigned himself there as well. Bev served 2 tours in Vietnam.

Bev and Winnie were blessed with five children to keep them company along the way. That station wagon was loud at times but with each new assignment came new experiences and amazing stories. Colonel Beverly McGruder retired from the U.S. Army in 1983 with numerous medals and citations including the Legion of Merit and a Bronze Star.

Bev may have retired from the Army but he did not retire from an active life. Bev and Winnie settled in Panama City Beach, Florida where Bev opened up Valentine Realty and served as President of the Bay County Board of Realtors. Always generous with his time and committed to serving others, Bev served as President of the Optimist Club of Panama City Beach and Lt. Governor of the North Florida District. A man of deep faith, Bev served as Senior Warden of St. Thomas by the Sea Episcopal Church and Grace Episcopal Church, both in Panama City Beach. Bev was a lifelong Mason and member of the Scottish Rite, Shrine and National Sojourners.

In 2002, after nearly 20 years of life in the little house by the lake - enjoying meals and laughter in his sunroom, helping others find homes for themselves in the community he so enjoyed, being a stalwart steward of his church family, serving others through community involvement and taking the excited hands of grandchildren and leading them to the beach, Bev lowered the American flag in his front yard and he and Winnie moved one last time to Cartersville, GA to be near family.

Upon their arrival in Cartersville, Bev continued to do what he had always done – he was a member and served as Commander of Carl Boyd Post 42 of the American Legion and was member and Senior Warden of the Episcopal Church of the Ascension in Cartersville. Bev lived his belief in servant leadership every day of his life.

Bev is survived by his children, daughter Winnie (Ken) Garner of Rydal, Georgia, sons Mark (Terri) McGruder of Panama City, Florida, Richard (Dawn) McGruder of Fairfax, Virginia, William (Hey Suk) McGruder of Beijing, China, Scott (Kathy) McGruder of Bartlett, Tennessee; eight grandchildren: Melanie (Stacey) Adams, Brian (Jennifer) Holladay, Tinsley (Eric) Sinnott, Richard (Victoria) McGruder, Amanda (Ben) Franceschi, Michael McGruder, Alexandria McGruder and Savannah McGruder; and two great-grandchildren, Annaston and Grant Adams.

A celebration of Bev’s life will be conducted on Friday, March 1, 2018, at 11:00am at the Episcopal Church of the Ascension, Cartersville with the Rev. Mary Erickson presiding. The family will receive visitors at a reception following the service in the church hall. Internment will take place at 3:00pm at the Georgia National Cemetery in Canton, Georgia. The family specifically requests that, in lieu of flowers, memorial contributions be made to the Episcopal Church of the Ascension, 205 W. Cherokee Avenue, Cartersville, GA 30120. http://www.ascensioncartersville.org/

Owen Funeral Home, 12 Collins Dr., Cartersville, GA, has charge of the funeral arrangements.