Leslie Groves
Obituary
Leslie Paul (Les) Groves, 85, of
McPherson, passed away at 6:30 a.m. Monday (Jan. 22, 2018) while in
the company of family members at McPherson Hospital .
Leslie was born in Freeman, South
Dakota, on Nov. 2, 1932, a son of Mary (Stucky) and William Paul
Adelbert Groves.
Les attended the Freeman Public School,
Freeman, South Dakota, graduating in 1950. He then attended reeman
Junior College and graduated with his associate's arts degree. Les
attended and graduated from Bethel College, Newton, with his Bachelor
of Arts Degree. He then received his Master of Arts Degree in
Psychology and Counseling from Emporia State Teachers College,
Emporia.
He was a member of First Presbyterian
Church, McPherson, where he served as Deacon for three years. Les was
raised in the Bethany Mennonite Church, Freeman, South Dakota, and a
member of the Eden Mennonite Church, rural Moundridge and McPherson
First Mennonite Church.
Through the years, Les taught in Harvey
County at Garden Valley District 43, then rural Hesston, District
112; Plainview Country School, rural Inman; and began a 34-year
career with McPherson USD 418 that started at Washington School
teaching fourth grade, sixth grade at Park School and he retired in
1993 from Roosevelt Grade School teaching the fifth grade.
Les enjoyed children, creative writing,
poetry and music. He was a member of McPherson Teachers Association,
Kansas and National Education Association, the Men's Mennonite Chorus
Association for 47 years (as of 2015), International Amateur Poetry
Association and numerous poetry and writing groups. In 2015, Les
received the Poet of the Year award.
Les Groves was united in marriage to
Ellen Stucky at the Eden Mennonite Church on Aug. 12, 1953. Ellen
died on March 26, 2010.
Les is survived by his children,
Russell Groves and his wife Jeanne of Hillsboro and Jan Groves and
his wife Anne of Valley Center; his sister, Lois Goertzen of North
Newton; and his granddaughter, Lia-Jing of Valley Center.
Les was preceded in death by his
parents, Paul and Mary Groves; his wife of more than 58 years, Ellen
(Stucky) Groves; sister, Doris Kaufman; and brothers, Raymond, Roy,
Carlyle, Quentin and Les's twin brother, Lowell Groves.
Friends are invited to call from 4 to 6
p.m. Wednesday (Jan. 24, 2018) at Glidden-Ediger Chapel, McPherson.
Memorial Service will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday (Jan. 25, 2018) at
First Presbyterian Church, McPherson, with Reverend H. Dick Reynolds
Jr. officiating.
In lieu of flowers, memorial
contributions may be made to First Presbyterian Church or Kansas
