William C. Groome Jr.

William Clair Groome, Jr., 92, Kokomo, was given a loving send off by his family on Tuesday, August 30, 2011, at St. Joseph Hospital. He was born October 10, 1918, in Portage, Pennsylvania, to William and Lucy (Farrell) Groome, Sr. He and the love of his life, Genevieve (Bagan) Groome, were married for more than 67 years, having wed April 13, 1944, in Pittsburgh.

He graduated from Central Catholic High School in 1936 later from Duquesne University in Pittsburgh in 1951. He went on to study at the Cathedral of Learning in Pittsburgh. He served in World War II as a finance officer. He achieved his goal of becoming a Certified Public Accountant in November 1973. He and Genevieve established a loving home for their six children. His children were the pride of his life, and he contributed to each child’s character by always supporting and continuing the parenting role. He lived his life as a true gentleman and treasured every minute of his life. He loved working with numbers and reading and was a lifelong learner. He and his wife were also world travelers. He worked at H.J. Heinz in Pittsburgh in the accounting department, at Bond & Lesher as partner and CPA, at Chrysler in New Castle and Kokomo in accounting, and as treasurer in Kokomo Swartwout Manufacturing. He was a 4th degree member of the Knights of Columbus Assembly #1932 in Vero Beach, Florida and was honored as Knight of the Year in 2002. He was also a member of the National Association of Accountants, the National Board of Directors, and St. Joan of Arc Catholic Church.

He is survived by his wife; children, Barbara Gene Warner, Margaret Anne (Vern) Emery, William Clair (Mary) Groome, III, Sharon Rose Groome, Daniel Lee (Mary Crume) Groome, all of Kokomo, and Thomas Alan (Mary-Therese) Groome of Vero Beach, Florida; brother, John Groome, Wheeling, West Virginia; grandchildren, Genny Weaver, Robert W. Warner, Lara Arroyo, Jason Emery, Chris Groome, Brian Groome, Julie Groome, Michael Pfeiffer, Molly Groome, Nickolas Groome, Justin Groome, Sarah Groome, Jonathan Groome, Allie Gammans, and Stephanie Crume; and great-grandchildren, Tyler Weaver, Bailey Weaver, Cassidy Kepler, Van Warner, Delaney Arroyo, Lukas Emery, Dominick Castorena, Kelvin Groome, Konnor Groome, and Kohle Groome.

He was preceded in death by his parents; two grandchildren, Eric William Groome, and Michael Joseph Groome; one great-grandchild, Avery Grace Groome; one brother, Paul Groome; and one sister, Mary Aiello.

A Mass of Christian burial will be held at 11:30 a.m. Saturday at St. Joan of Arc Catholic Church with Father David Huemer officiating. Entombment will follow in Sunset Memory Garden Cemetery. Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Friday at the funeral home with a rosary service at 7:30 and a visitation also from 10:30 a.m. until the time of service on Saturday at the church. Online messages of condolence may be made and a video viewed at www.sunsetmemorygarden.com.