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Groves E. West “Grover”
SHINGLEHOUSE, Pa.---Groves E. “Grover” West, 85, of
Shinglehouse, passed away on Wednesday, January 29, 2020, in Olean General
Hospital, Olean, N.Y., after a short illness.
Born on Wednesday, September 5, 1934 in Millport, he was a
son of John R. and Pauline M. Presher West.
On January 4, 1959 in the Millport United Methodist Church, he married
Janice E. “Janie” Taylor, who passed away on April 15, 2005.
Groves attended school in Millport and Shinglehouse. He was a veteran of the U.S. Army.
As a teenager and young man, Groves worked for his father’s
gas and oil well drilling business.
After serving his country, he was employed by Nichols Drilling in
Shinglehouse. He and his wife moved to
Ohio, where he was employed by Flanigan Brothers as a gas and oil well driller,
followed by Perkins and Summers Drilling Company, Armstrong Drilling, and Cubby
Drilling. Returning in 1980 to
Shinglehouse, Groves worked for the family business, West Brothers, which is
now Gas Field Specialists. Groves was a
hard worker who started at the bottom and completed his gas and oil career as a
work over operator.
Groves was a member of the First Baptist Church in
Shinglehouse; was a member of the New York State Oil and Gas Association; and
along with his wife, was a charter member of the former Oswayo Valley Lions
Club in Shinglehouse, where they were very active in club functions. Every year Groves and his family made their
annual trip to “Jamboree in the Hills”, a country music gathering in St.
Clairsville, Ohio. Groves greatest love
was his family, especially his grandchildren, who were such an important part
of his life.
Surviving are six children, David L. (Juanita Blau) West of
Shinglehouse, Edward R. (Sandi Perkins) West of Franklinville, N.Y., Katherine
E. Hays of Olean, N.Y., Michael R. (Vera) West of Shinglehouse, Steven G.
(Jamie) West of Prairieville, Louisiana, and Renee A. (Shawn) White of
Shinglehouse; twenty-four grandchildren; thirty-one great-grandchildren; a
brother, Lee (June) West of Hinsdale, N.Y.; and many nieces and nephews.
In addition to his parents and wife, Groves was predeceased
by a daughter, Deborah L. Slutz; five brothers, Loyd, Lynn, Burdett, John, and
Jerry; and five sisters, Mary, Virginia, Lucille, Louise, and Myrtle.
Family and friends may call from 6pm to 8pm on Monday and
from 11am to 1pm on Tuesday, February, 4, 2020, at the Virgil L. Howard Funeral
Home, 118 South Union Street, Shinglehouse, where funeral services will follow
at 1pm with the Rev. Russell J. Horning, pastor of the First Baptist Church,
officiating. Burial will be in the
Pauline M. West Cemetery, Millport.
Members of the Potter County Honor Guard will accord full
military honors on Tuesday.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the First
Baptist Church, PO Box 68, Shinglehouse, PA 16748 or to the Shinglehouse
Volunteer Ambulance Association, PO Box 98, Shinglehouse, PA 16748.
Groves entrusted his care to Kevin J. Dusenbury, funeral
director/owner of the Virgil L. Howard Funeral Home, Shinglehouse.
To express condolences or share a fond memory of Groves,
please visit www.virgillhowardfuneralhome.com or the funeral home Facebook
page, Virgil L. Howard Funeral Home.
