ARLINGTON, TX- Arthur J. Groff, 91, passed away February 6, 2023
MEMORIAL SERVICE: 10 AM February 25, 2023 at Most Blessed Sacrament Church, 2100 North Davis Drive, Arlington, TX 76012.
MEMORIALS: In lieu of flowers, it is requested that donations should be made to Scottish Rite Hospital or Saint Maria Goretti Catholic School.
Arthur was born June 19, 1931 in Le Mars, Iowa son of Clarence and Loretta Groff. In 1938, the family moved from Remsen, Iowa to Pocahontas, Iowa, to establish the Groff Plumbing and Heating business. Arthur graduated in 1949 from Sacred Heart High School in Pocahontas. He attended Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa and graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering. Arthur married Donna Mart, his high school sweetheart, on September 26, 1953. Shortly after their marriage, they traveled to his new job as a Propulsion Engineer at Chance Vought Aircraft in Grand Prairie, Texas. While working at Chance Vought (LTV), he attended SMU law school at night and obtained a law degree and passed the Texas State Bar. Arthur then practiced law in downtown Dallas for 2 years before returning to employment at LTV. In 1962, the LANCE missile project transferred he and his family to Utica, Michigan. In Michigan, their family expanded to five children and while there, many wonderful memories, and friendships were made. In 1972, he experienced a career change when he was promoted to Quality Engineering Manager for the Missile Division. In 1977, the family was transferred back to Texas on the MLRS missile program and settled in Arlington, Texas. Arthur continued his employment working as Quality Assurance Director on the MLRS program. His family was maturing and eventually all five children graduated from Texas A&M University. In 1983, he was promoted to Director of Quality Assurance, overseeing all the Missile Divisions Quality Assurance activities, including the various missile programs, quality laboratories, and hardware inspections. In 1996, after 40 years of employment, he retired from Lockheed Martin, who had recently acquired the Missile Division.
Arthur was a religious man of service who centered is life around family and friends. Arthur was a member of the Most Blessed Sacrament Catholic church and the Knights of Columbus. He was recently awarded a memorial brick for 25 years of service with Meals on Wheels. Retirement years were spent traveling, attending grandchildren functions, and playing golf with the Arlington Senior Men's Golf Association. He especially enjoyed annual lake trips with family and Foley Beach vacations with his brothers. Holidays were always special with Christmas highlighted by Art’s sharing of wisdom and memories with the family.
Arthur is preceded in death by his father and mother, brothers John and Robert, brother Richard and wife Peggy Jo, and sister-in-law Evelyn. He is survived by his wife of 69 years, Donna. Daughter Laura Wolf and husband Joe, son Doug Groff and wife Cyndie, daughter Kathy Belew and husband Marshall, son Greg Groff and wife Leslie, daughter Jane Gough and husband Chris. Ten grandchildren, Ryan (and wife Maya) and Gavin Wolf, Lauren and Zach Groff, Jonah and Kyle Belew, Madeline (and fiancé Blake) and Julia Groff and Grace and Lilian Gough. Brothers Peter Groff, Clarence Groff and wife Margaret and Patrick Groff and wife Linda.
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