Jerrold E. Groves passed away Friday, March 13, at the age of 94, in Winchester, Virginia. He was born April 12, 1931, in Lorraine, New York, to Edward and Iva Groves. The first in his family to attend college, he eventually graduated from Cornell University with a degree in horticulture and from Dubuque Theological Seminary with a divinity degree.

In 1952, he met his future wife, Clara May “Sally” McConnell, while working with a wheat harvesting crew in Nebraska. They married June 23, 1954. Jerry served three years in the U.S. Army, including one year in Korea. He then served as a minister and Bible teacher, supporting his family through outside employment, a pattern he valued throughout his life, serving churches in Washington, Nebraska, Iowa, and Ontario, Canada, retiring in 1995. He and Sally spent their retirement years in Arizona, Colorado, and Virginia.

Jerry was devoted to his family and is survived by his six children, Jeffrey (Valerie), Curtis (Xiaohui), Jonathan, Melinda, Clark (Linda), and Eric; 20 grandchildren; and 15 great-grandchildren. He will be greatly missed.

The funeral will be Saturday, April 4, 2026 at 11:00 am at the Rockland Community Church, 2921 Rockland Rd, Front Royal VA 22630.  In lieu of flowers, a card with a simple note of encouragement to Sally would mean the most to the family (c/o Rockland).