Charles William Groover, the son of Mildred McLeod Groover and John M. Groover, Sr., passed away on January 31, 2020, at the age of 93.  His wife, Phyllis Davis Groover and beloved daughter, Cathy Groover Lawless, preceded him in death. Brothers John and Henry (Charlsie) passed away earlier.

Charles grew up in the economically depressed period of the 1930's on a farm in Madison County Florida. He loved sports. He graduated from high school in 1944. He was a member of the University of Florida football team before departing for Germany in the U.S. Army during WWII in 1944.  After leaving the Army, Charles was credit manager at Sears Roebuck & Co., Selma, Alabama. He then returned to college and graduated from the University of Tennessee Knoxville in 1951 with a degree in Business Administration.  Charles was employed in security management at the Department of Energy in Oak Ridge, TN from 1951 until retiring in 1984.

He coached Clinton Optimist football, basketball and baseball for 15 years, and was an active member of the Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church for much of his adult life.

He is survived by his children Gary (Sayona), Greg, and Mark (Melanie), son-in-law Wayne Lawless; grandchildren Courtney (Kevin) Hunt, Tyler (fiancée Valerie) Hodge, Mattie (Trey) Shoemaker, Alex Lawless, Emily Lawless, Anna Groover, Nick Groover, and Mary Groover; great-grandchildren Ethan Hunt, Wyatt Hodge, Caleb Wolfe, Olivia Hodge, and LillyAnn Shoemaker; and many other beloved relatives including sister-in-law Janice (Bud) Rogers,  nieces and nephews and cousins including his and his wife's side of the family.

Charles wants to sincerely thank many people, family members, Clinton Optimist Club, all the Optimist youth, and medical personnel who helped him live a wonderful life. Charles believed in God and the Creation, his family, country and humanity. He hoped to see everyone again including his beloved pets.

The family will have a graveside service 4:00 pm, Saturday, February 15, 2020 at Sunset Cemetery.  Holley Gamble Funeral Home in Clinton is in charge of all arrangements.  holleygamble.com