Vivian Moles Groome

GROOME, Vivian Marie Moles, 87, of Richmond, passed away on Wednesday, November 6, 2013 at Snyder Park of The Hermitage, located in Richmond, Va. She was born on June 24, 1926 in Willis, Va to the late Sarah Beulah Slusher Moles and Oscar “Tellie” Moles. Vivian and her husband, Clifford Owen Groome, Jr., celebrated 59 years of marriage prior to his demise in March of 2003. Clifford and Vivian were very active members at Ray of Hope Pentecostal Holiness Church and helped build its present facility on Chatham Rd. Vivian was a bookkeeper for her husband’s firm, Groome Construction Co., a housewife and a wonderful mother. She loved her family, enjoyed sewing and listening to country music. In spite of a childhood disability of her hip and leg, she bore three children. Although neither Vivian nor Clifford completed high school, they encouraged education and inspired independence in their children and grandchildren. Vivian was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s dementia over two years ago. Her oldest son, Clifford Talmond Groome, and his wife, Virginia Storms Groome, have provided care to allow her to remain in her own home until recently. Her family is very grateful to The Hermitage for the ongoing care of their nursing and physician staff. In addition to her son, Clifford, Vivian is survived by her daughter, Bettina Marie Groome Ellsworth, MD., of Gettysburg, PA, and her husband, Lee S. Ellsworth; daughter-in-law, Carol Wright Groome, of Mechanicsville, Va; seven grandchildren, Karen Annette Groome Petery, of Hampton Roads, Va., Lisa Michelle Groome Shawler (Carl), of Mechanicsville, Va., Roy Dee Groome, Jr. (Lisa Marie), of Mechanicsville, Va., Stacey Lynn Groome Price (Brad), of Mechanicsville, Va., Raymond George Ohl IV, Ph.D. (Elizabeth), of Dayton, MD., Clifford Owen Groome Ohl, Ph.D. (Elizabeth), of Perth, West Australia, and Dee Marie Groome Loving, of Sandston, Va.; step-granddaughters, Sherri Comer and Nancy Comer, of Mechanicsville, Va; step-grandson, Custis Ray Walton; sisters-in-law, Ruth “Sis” Groome of Highland Springs, Va., Mary Elizabeth “Betty” Clowers Moles of Salem, Va., and Virginia Moles Perks, of Fredericksburg, Va.; 13 great-grandchildren, Justin Lee, Luke Owen, Kaci Rae, Clifford Bradley, Emily Elizabeth, George Tavin, Jacob Freeman, Owen Roy, Landrey McKenna, Dustin James, Derek Austin, Keith Ryan and Kyle Mason; step-great-grandsons, Brandon and Jarrett; and many nieces and nephews. In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by her son, Roy Dee Groome, Sr.; as well as her three brothers, Townsend William Moles, Thomas Hamilton Moles, and Charles Roy Moles. The family will receive friends on Saturday, November 9, 2013 from 9-11 a.m. at Nelsen Funeral Home, 4650 S. Laburnum Ave. Richmond, Va 23231, where a funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m. in the chapel. Interment will be private in Washington Memorial Park. Online condolences may be expressed at www.nelsenrichmond.com.