Benjamin and Lucille B. Groves

Longtime Naperville residents Benjamin H. Groves Jr. and Lucille Baumgartner Groves died recently in Greenwood, SC, less than two days apart, after a marriage of almost 71 years. Ben Groves died Saturday, April 3. He was born June 30, 1916 in Nebraska. In his early school years, the family moved to Downers Grove. After high school, Ben attended North Central College, where he met his future wife Lucille. Ben was an outstanding competitive diver while at NCC. He was the Illinois state college diving champion his sophomore through senior years (1936-38). He was often asked to be a judge at NCC diving events in the 40's and '50's. Ben and Lucille were married May 12, 1939. They settled in Naperville, and for many years Ben commuted to Chicago to his job with Montgomery Ward. He was, for a time, a Little League coach, and enjoyed amateur acting with the Naperville Community Theatre. Two notable roles remembered by his family are the villainous psychopath Jonathon Brewster in "Arsenic and Old Lace ", and Elwood P. Dowd (the Jimmy Stewart role) in "Harvey ". Lucille Baumgartner Groves died Thursday, April 1. She was born July 6, 1916 in Naperville and grew up here. After marriage she kept busy with motherhood and a variety of social and creative activities. Still remembered from the '50's are her productions of "Pops-A-Poppin' " (named from the popular Broadway show Hellz-A-Poppin'). This was a PTA fundraiser for Ellsworth School, and featured a cast entirely of Ellsworth student fathers performing comedy skits. Starting in the Ellsworth auditorium, it grew so popular that in later years it played in Pfeiffer Hall. She enjoyed creating original prize-winning costumes for local parades, and a Halloween funhouse in the family garage. She was proud of having the Groves home featured in a "Notable Naperville Homes " series in the Naperville Sun. Ben and Lucille raised four children - Barry, Sherry, Ben III, and Margaret. Barry and Sherry are graduates of Naperville Community (now Central) H.S. In 1962, the family moved to Cleveland, OH due to Ben's employment. Ben and Lucille subsequently moved to Lake Hopatcong, NJ, Seneca, SC, and Greenwood, SC. In Seneca in 1987, Lucille founded the Cosmopolitan Women's Club. The club's activities help support the Collins Children's Home of Seneca (collinschildrenshome.org). In lieu of flowers or remembrances, Lucille would have appreciated any donation to this organization you care to make. Ben and Lucille are survived by their four children, eight grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren. Ben is also survived by two brothers, Bill of Phoenix and John of Lakewood, CO. '

Benjamin and Lucille B. Groves

January 1, 1970 - April 3, 2010

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