Donald Richard Grohs, born Dec. 9, 1930, in Waterbury to Edna (Anderson) and Harry Grohs, died Feb. 7, 2021. He will be deeply missed by his beloved wife, Evelyn, who was his high school sweetheart and with whom he enjoyed 68 wonderful years of marriage. He and Evelyn were blessed with three children, and their five grandchildren were his pride and joy.
Don grew up on the Anderson farm in Morris, graduated from Morris High School, served in the Korean War, and upon return received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from UConn as well as a GED (6th year) from Wesleyan University. He taught history and contemporary issues at Valley Regional High School his entire career; he taught driver education as well, after school and Saturdays, for 40 years.
Don, a member of the Deep River Congregational Church, served on the Board of Trustees and chaired fund drives for a new organ and the refurbished parking lot. He was a “forever” trustee, always checking things out. He was instrumental in restoring the historic church cemetery, which had become so overgrown with brush and small trees that old gravestones couldn’t be seen. In 1987, he and Evelyn established a Memorial Garden for cremated remains in the cemetery; this is where Don will be interred.
Proud of his military service, Don was a member of American Legion Post 61 in Deep River; he was named “Connecticut’s Legionnaire of the Year” in 2014 and was presented the Herbert L. Emanuelson trophy in 2015 for most outstanding contribution to community service. In 2017, Don received a Certificate of Appreciation and Recognition for Active Participation in the Legion’s National High School Oratorical Program. The unofficial “flag man” of Deep River, Don initiated and placed 52 flags along Main Street (through the American Legion) every year prior to Memorial Day, lowering them after Veterans Day. He did this with help for many years. His community service also included serving as chair of Deep River’s Zoning Board of Appeals for almost 50 years.
Don enjoyed camping with Evelyn and his family in their Cox camper, traveling with the camper for 50 years throughout the U.S. and Canada. Sebago Lake State Park in Maine was a particular family favorite. He was a world traveler as well and visited more than 40 countries. He was a square dancer with Durham Cogin-Chuggers, and this activity took them to several national conventions in the U.S., to a Canadian National in Vancouver, to the Southern Hemisphere Convention in New Zealand, and to a friendship group square dancing in China. He and Evelyn were part of Friendship Force and traveled with the group to Thailand and the Philippines.
Besides his wife, Evelyn, he leaves his children and their spouses: Daniel (Susan) Grohs of Marietta, Georgia; Nancy (James) Eaman of Broomfield, Colorado; and Keryn (Kenneth) Lane of Malvern, Pennsylvania; and his five beloved grandchildren: Andrew, Katelyn, and Megan Eaman and Kelsey and Robyn Lane.
A memorial service will be live-streamed from Deep River Congregational Church at 1 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 14, 2021. Please visit www.deeprivercc.org for the link to the service. In lieu of flowers, contributions in his memory may be made to Deep River Congregational Church Memorial Fund or to the American Legion Post 61’s flag fund. To share a memory or express a condolence to Donald’s family, please visit www.rwwfh.com. Arrangements are by the Robinson, Wright & Weymer Funeral Home, in Centerbrook.
