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Obituary for John J. Groody
John J. Groody died in Alameda on June 27, at the age of 93.Born in Kansas to Marie and Dr. H.T. Groody, John was active in music and theater at Kansas State University and summer stock in Michigan. In 1941 he was drafted into the Army and served in Honolulu, Hawaii until his discharge in 1945. Because of his theatrical background, he served in the Entertainment Section of Army Special Services. Sgt. Groody was stage manager and involved in productions of Hamlet, Macbeth, The Mikado, Hey Mac!, Arsenic and Old Lace and many others, entertaining the troops passing through the Pacific Theater of war. He worked closely with many well known performers.After discharge from the Army, he married Joan Ronfeldt, attended mortuary college in San Francisco, became a mortician at Wilson & Kratzer Mortuary, Richmond, CA (for 36 years), served as Deputy County Coroner and raised six boys.John was an Elder in the Presbyterian Church, sang in several choirs, was a Life Member of the Lions Club and was well loved by all who knew him.John is survived by his brother Paul of Austin, Texas, sons Philip and Barry of Alameda, Peter of San Pablo, Chris of Vallejo, Douglas of Las Vegas and Tim of Olympia, Washington, as well as many nieces, nephews and grandchildren.Funeral services will be held on Saturday, July 17 at 2 p.m. at McCune Garden Chapel, 212 Main St., Vacaville. Interment with military honors will take place at the end of August at Sacramento Valley National Cemetery, Dixon, CA. He will be buried with Joan Groody, his beloved wife of 63 years who died in February 2008.In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Lions Club International Eye Bank. The family also would like to extend heartfelt thanks to Waters Edge Nursing Home, Blanding Ave., Alameda.
