Obituary

Bruce P. Grove

May 12, 1935–August 10, 2024

Bruce P. Grove, longtime Dayton resident, passed away Saturday, August 10, 2024, at his home. He was 89.

Bruce was born May 12, 1935, in Leaf River, Ill., to Roy and Alice Kappenman Grove. He grew up in Illinois where his dad was a farmer. Bruce enlisted in the U.S. Army and served toward the tail end of the Korean Conflict. He was stationed at the Hanford Reserve near Richland, Wash., as a mechanic for part of his tour.

While there, he met Velma J. Briley and they were married on May 18, 1956, in Seaford, Va. Bruce and Velma lived in the Tri-Cities during the early part of their marriage. They also lived briefly in Southern Idaho. Bruce was honorably discharged from the Army in 1958. Bruce and Velma kept busy with their three boys and often enjoyed camping trips, snowmobiling, or packing in for elk hunting.

Bruce was also actively involved with the Cub Scouts and later the Boy Scouts. Helping his boys with their 4-H or FFA animal projects was an important pastime as well. They moved to Dayton, Wash., in 1972 and he operated the Union 76 gas station there. He was an extremely hard worker and the family often had to visit the service station in order to see him or spend time with him.

In 1977 he began Valley Truck & Auto and ran his own mechanic shop in Dayton for many years. He was a former Sunday school teacher and a member of the Christian Church in Kennewick during their years there.

Bruce was preceded in death by a son, Warren in 2011, and by three brothers and two sisters.

He is survived by his wife Velma at their Dayton home; sons Ronald (Trish) Grove of Dayton and Nathan (Sandi) Grove of Clarkston; by two granddaughters, Kelsey Chinchinian and Megan Sanzone; and three great-grandchildren, Eli, Aubrey, and Harper.

A graveside service for family was held in the Dayton Cemetery. Corbeill Funeral Home in Dayton is in charge of the arrangements.

On-line guest book is at http://www.corbeillfuneralhomes.com