William “Bill” Herman Grob, Sr., 84 years young of Doylestown, PA went home to be with his heavenly Father on Tuesday, February 19, 2019. Bill lived his life with diligence to his many talents, loved his family and shared his enthusiasm from his many travels and experiences through animated stories remembering life’s happy moments.
Bill passed away in the comforting care of Serenity Hospice in Lansdale, PA at Gwynedd Healthcare Nursing Home with peace and dignity after a long illness surrounded by his loving sons and beloved family.
Bill was born in Stroudsburg, PA to Ruth Amelia Breischaft and Charles F. Grob. He loved cars, fishing, boating and the mountains. He was a fan of NASCAR and spent many weekends enjoying the races and discussing their outcomes. He attended Dobbins Technical High School in Philadelphia, PA. In 1956, he married his lifelong love, Barbara Jean (nee Howell) Grob. Barbara predeceased Bill, in 2016 after 60 years of marriage.
They successfully raised two sons, Kenneth W. and William H., Jr., whom he loved profoundly. His accomplishments as a father and husband reflected his strong work ethic, love of God and his incredible precision in his talents. The biggest joy in his life were his grandchildren, who were a source of deep pride, boundless delight and infinite love. Bill found his best self when sharing leisure time and spending teaching moments with his precious grandchildren. His love is reflected every day in their smile, zest for life and sense of humor.
Bill was a skilled craftsman and had a natural precision for all work that he accomplished throughout his life. He was an exceptional auto collision and restoration expert and worked for auto body shops in the Philadelphia area and in Jamison, PA until 1985. Bill then moved on to GE Spacecraft Operations Division (later Lockheed Martin) in King of Prussia, PA where he applied special finishes to satellites. At GE, he was later offered the opportunity to take over a position in Security at the facility, which he eagerly accepted, and true to Bill’s dedication, he quickly was thought of as the mayor of GE in his new role. Bill loved working with people and took pride in the quality and perfection of his work.
In 1997, Bill retired from GE, and moved to Destin, FL, where he again refitted his mechanical acuity to maintaining and customizing golf carts at a local golf cart company. He enjoyed boating in the beautiful Gulf of Mexico and spent many of his leisure hours fishing and boating in the cerulean blue waters with his family. While living in Destin, Bill and Barbara became active members local Republican Party. In 2006, he moved to the Lakes of Mount Dora Retirement Community, where he and Barbara retired and remained active members of the local Republican Party as well as members of the Faith Lutheran Church in Mount Dora, FL. These opportunities led them to exciting destinations, culminating in an honored invitation to the White House to celebrate Lincoln’s Birthday with George and Laura Bush as their hosts. He loved his country and being a guest at the White House was a lifelong dream. Bill was also proud of driving then Vice President Dick Cheney to a Republican committee event in Florida.
Bill is survived by his beloved sons and their families: Kenneth W. Grob, his wife Brenda, both of Doylestown, PA and their children, Kenneth of Bristol, VT; Matthew and his wife, Kate of Morrisville, PA; and Luke of Doylestown, PA. William H. Grob, Jr, his wife Penelope, both of Doylestown, PA and their children, Katherine, Emily and Madeline all of Philadelphia, PA.
A memorial service to celebrate a life well lived will be at 11 a.m., Saturday, March 23 at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, 301 North Main Street, Doylestown, where the family will receive guests from 10 a.m., until the time of the service. Interment will be private.
Donations to honor Bill’s light and life can be sent in his memory to: St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, 301 N. Main St, Doylestown, PA 18901 or to: Lewy Body Dementia Association, 912 Killian Hill Road, S.W., Lilburn, GA 30047.
Our family would like to thank all our friends and especially the Gwynedd Healthcare Nursing Home and Serenity Hospice caregivers who aided Bill through thoughts, prayers and actions during his illness. He loved everyone and appreciated the gracious time and gentle care that was bestowed on him. The words of Henry Van Dyke give us peace at this sad time:
I am standing upon the seashore. A ship, at my side,
spreads her white sails to the moving breeze and starts
for the blue ocean. She is an object of beauty and strength.
I stand and watch her until, at length, she hangs like a speck
of white cloud just where the sea and sky come to mingle with each other.
Then, someone at my side says, “There, she is gone.”
Gone where?
Gone from my sight. That is all. She is just as large in mast,
hull and spar as she was when she left my side.
And, she is just as able to bear her load of living
freight to her destined port.
Her diminished size is in me — not in her.
And, just at the moment when someone says, “There, she is gone,”
there are other eyes watching her coming, and other voices
ready to take up the glad shout, “Here she comes!”
And that is dying…