Thomas Ogle Groce

He was a highly decorated career officer and command pilot. Tom will be remembered as a beloved husband, father, grandfather and faithful servant.

He was born on January 23, 1922 in Huntland, Tennessee into a wonderful large family that moved to Sherman, Texas when Tom nicknamed Mike was four months old.

Upon high school graduation, Tom enlisted as a Private into the Army Air Corp. This placed five Groce brothers serving their country during the perils of World War II.

In 1943, he was promoted to Sergeant and entered pilot training in Dothan, Alabama. Upon graduation, Tom was commissioned a 2nd Lt. and was assigned to the 419th Night Fighters Squadron in the Philippines where he flew the P-61, known as the "Black Widow".

Soon after the squadron was assigned to Clark AFB and Tom was promoted to squadron commander and supply officer.

During his distinguished career in the Air Force, Tom flew a variety of aircraft and logged over 10, 000 hours. He was a rated instructor and senior command pilot.

Other Air Force duties included Chief of Supply and Services where he began to standardize and computerize the Air Force supply systems.

Col. Groce served a total of 33 years of active duty with assignments in Eniwetok on the Atomic bomb Project, Athens, Greece, Madrid, Spain, Westover AFB, Massachusetts, Offutt AFB, Nebraska and ending his distinguished career as the Chief of Logistics at Randolph Air Force Base in San Antonio, TX.

Since retirement, Tom had been actively involved with the Alzafar Shrine Golf Unit serving as it's President in 1982.

Tom was a member of the San Antonio Court Royal Order of the Jesters. He was a member of the Order of Daedalians, Stinson Flight No. 2, which is a national fraternity of military pilots.

He is survived by his beloved wife of 56 years, Millie; 2 daughters and sons-in-law, Suzette and Patrick Beasley, Pamela and Artis Ferguson; and 5 grandchildren, Shannan, Renee, Jeff, Jason and Nathan; three brothers and numerous nieces and nephews.