Donna Groves

Donna Groves, 85, of Webster City died Friday, January 21, 2011, at Southfield Care Center. Visitation will be from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., Tuesday, Jan. 25, at Foster Funeral & Cremation Center. Memorial services and interment at Graceland Cemetery will be held in the spring. Donna Louise Wiggam Groves, daughter of Adele Blomenberg Wiggam and Trevanian MacArthur Wiggam, was born on July 18, 1925, in Indianapolis, Indiana. Donna grew up in Woodruff Place in Indianapolis and attended city public schools, graduating from Arsenal Technical High School in 1943. Working on the school paper and the year book were her favorite high school activities. She worked at Eli Lilly & Co. LS Ayers and RCA in Indianapolis. Donna attended Purdue University where she studied chemistry and journalism. She met Richard F. Groves there while he was training for the Navy V-12 program. In December of 1945 they were married in Long Beach, CA. After Dick's discharge in 1946 they went back to Purdue until they moved to the farmstead south of Webster City where they resided until his death 2006. Donna moved to Southfield Apartments in 2008 and lived there until her recent illness. Donna is survived by her two daughters, Lee A. O'Brien and son-in-law, Dr. William G. O'Brien of Newark Delaware, and Mary Groves Loucks and son-in-law Dr. Eric. D. Loucks of Austin, Texas; grandson Richard William O'Brien and wife Rita; two great grandchildren, Jacob Michael and Angelina Margaret O'Brien of Merchantville, NJ; brother-in-law Jim Groves and wife Mary Ellen of Wellsville, New York; nephews George Groves and wife Gaylene and Wil Groves and wife Marjorie of Webster City and niece Margaret Groves Shepard and husband Del of Urbandale, niece Anne Groves of Indianapolis, IN; and nephews, John Groves of Buffalo, NY, and G.W. Groves of Philadelphia, PA. Donna was an active member of First Congregational Church, UCC of Webster City, serving with the women's circles for many years. She was a member of PEO, Boone Valley Housing Board, and Hamilton County League of Women Voters and editor of the Voter, Friends of the Kendall Young Library, Building Fund Committee of Kendall Young Library, Crippled Children's Society, Girl Scout leader, and Travel Club. Donna also supported her husband in his many community activities. Donna worked at "As You Like It" and Parkhurst's Hardware in Webster City. Donna loved to read and travel. She was independently minded and politically outspoken. She was an avid bridge player and enjoyed celebrations big and small with her friends and family. Donna could tell a good story and had a great laugh. Although she loved farm life in Iowa for 64 years, she never failed to remind her friends and family of her proud Hoosier Heritage. Memorials may be made in her honor to the First Congregational Church, UCC, or Heifer Project International. Write a personal tribute or light a virtual candle for the Groves family at www.fosterfunerlandcremation.com