Boyce Allen Groves Sr., 74, Bardstown
Boyce Allen Groves, Sr., 74, of Bardstown. On Wednesday May 18, 2011, the old ship of Zion docked at the harbor of Sam Swope Care Center, Masonic Homes of Kentucky, Louisville, and beckoned for Boyce Allen Groves Sr., a faithful child of God, to step on board. Boyce, who had fought a good fight and kept the faith through his illness, accepted his ride to GLORY!
He was was born on July 11, 1936 in Greensburg, to the late John Allen Groves and Sarah Lillian (Scott, Groves) Brown. While he attended schools in both Greensburg and Springfield, he made his home in Bardstown, where he resided until his illness.
On September 7, 1957, he was united in marriage to Betty Johnson. To this union, God added eight children. Boyce was a very hard worker. His early careers consisted of Tobacco Warehouse Factory and Sam Nally Farm, both located in Springfield. He would later gain employment and retire, after 35 years of service, from General Electric in Louisville.
Boyce was not only a man who believed in working hard and providing for his family, but he believed in putting God first. Boyce accepted the call into the ministry many years ago. He served faithfully as a member, deacon, and associate pastor at the Springfield Church of God of America for many years. He later attended the Bardstown Church of God until his illness. Boyce, along with his wife, hosted the Groves Sunday Ministry at WBRT-1320 AM Radio Station in Bardstown, for 23 years. According to Kenny Fogle, station owner at the time, the Groves were well admired by the listening audience. The program was an inspiration and generated lots of telephone calls. Boyce was vibrant about sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ and praying for anyone who was in need! This was evident among his co-workers who participated in the weekly Bible study he held for many years at General Electric. May Boyce rest in peace knowing he blessed many lives throughout the years!
He we preceded in death by his father, John Allen Groves; maternal grandparents, Grant and Louvenia Scott; and paternal grandparents, Bud and Mary Groves.
Boyce was a caring, dedicated husband, father, grandfather, son, and friend. He enjoyed the simple things of life such as: baseball, his children, family, and others. He leaves to cherish his memory, his devoted wife: Betty Johnson Groves of Bardstown; three sons, Boyce Groves Jr. of Georgetown, Joseph (Kathi) Groves of Bay City, Mont., and Timothy (Jodelle) Groves of Auburn, Wash.; six daughters, Alyce Graves of Georgetown, Carolyn (Timothy) Downs of Bardstown, Joyce Yocum of Louisville, Linda Livers of Killeen, TX, Jane (Salvador) Gutierrez of Shelbyville, and Norma (Stanley) McElroy of Elizabethtown; his mother, Sarah Lillian Brown and his stepfather, Thomas Brown of Lebanon; three sisters, Mary Frances (Alex) Thompson of Springfield; Bertha (Dennis) Lee of Muncie, IN, and Denise Groves of Louisville; six stepsisters, Diane Boyd, Tevis Brown, and Brenda Duncan all of Bowling Green, Eva Thomas, and Barbara (terry) Porter both of Lebanon, Tina (Louis) Vargas of Miami, FL; two stepbrothers, Bishop Richard (Betty) Brown of Bowling Green, and William (Girly) Brown of Miami, FL; two sisters-in-law, Evelyn (Alfred) Johnson, and JoAnn Johnson; 13 grandchildren, seven great-grandchildren, and a host of nieces, nephews, relatives, and friends.
His funeral will be 11 a.m. Saturday May 28, 2011, at Barlow Funeral Home in Bardstown with burial in Bardstown Cemetery. Pastor Doug Lutes will officiate. Visitation will be 3 – 8 p.m. Friday and 9 – 11 a.m. Saturday at Barlow Funeral Home.
Memorial contributions may go to The American Cancer Society.
Barlow Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. For more information, visit the Barlow Funeral Home website.
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