Clyde Groves

THEBES, Ill. -- Clyde E. Groves, 85, of Thebes died Friday, June 3, 2005, at his home.

He was born Oct. 22, 1919, in McClure, Ill., son of Ephraim and Mary Elizabeth Rhymer Groves. He married Reba Orpha McIntosh, who died Feb. 4, 1947. He and Irlene Genevieve Farley were married in April 1947. She died Nov. 12, 2003.

Groves was a tri-state district supervisor with Martin Oil Co. of St. Louis from 1934 to 1965. He moved to Van Nuys, Calif., in 1965 and back to Thebes in 1966. He was a manager with Star Oil Co. in Cape Girardeau until he retired, and then was caretaker many years at Lindsey Cemetery in McClure until 2003. He was a member, deacon and trustee of Trinity Free Pentecostal Church at Charleston, Mo.

He was a U.S. Navy veteran of World War II.

Survivors include a daughter, Joyce Kaye Sampels of Woodburn, Ore.; two sons, David Groves of Thebes, Don Groves of Van Nuys; three sisters, Bertha Benefield of McClure, Freda Derden of Bakersfield, Calif., Lucille Theise of Dongola, Ill.; four grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by a son, a daughter, two sisters and an infant brother.

Friends may call at Ford and Sons Mount Auburn Funeral Home in Cape Girardeau from 4 to 8 p.m. Sunday.

The funeral will be at 1 p.m. Monday at the funeral home, with the Rev. Wendall Farley officiating. Burial will be in Oak Grove Cemetery at Charleston, with full military honors by Missouri Honors Team.