Ellen Arnold Groff

Ellen Arnold Groff, 67, of Lancaster, died on Saturday, July 28th, 2012, at the Lancaster General Hospital. Born in Newburgh, NY, she was the daughter of Barbara Durkee Kennedy of Lancaster, and the late Reverend Alfred C. Arnold Jr. She met her husband, Robert F. Groff, Jr., at St. James Episcopal Church in 1976, and together they shared 36 years of marriage. She graduated from William Smith College, Geneva, NY, and received an Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters from Franklin and Marshall College in 2008. After moving to Lancaster, Ellen worked as an artist, and freelance designer. In 1980, Ellen joined her husband at Fred. F. Groff, Inc, where she served as a Vice-President until her retirement in 1999. Amongst all of her community involvements, Ellen is a trustee emeritus and former board member of Franklin and Marshall College, and four-time past President of the board, and recently-named trustee emeritus of the Fulton Theater. She served on the boards of Actors’ Company of Pennsylvania, Lancaster County Community Foundation, Leadership Lancaster, the Museum of Archeology and Anthropology at the University of Pennsylvania, and Warfel Construction Co. She was also founding member and president of the Cultural Council of Lancaster County, and former board President and life trustee of the Lancaster Museum of Art. She was a member of St. James Episcopal Church, where she served as Senior Warden of the Vestry, chairman of the 250th Anniversary Committee, and Co-chair of the present Capital Campaign. She was also a member of the Healing Arts Commission of Lancaster General Health, the de Tocqueville Society of the United Way, Daughters of the American Revolution, the National Society of Colonial Dames, the Lancaster Country Club, and the Hamilton Club, where she served on the Art Committee. Ellen is survived by her six children, R. Fred III, husband of Robin Shoop Groff, of New Holland, PA, Sanford H., husband of Nancy Nickel Groff, of Wayne, PA, Lisa M. Groff, of Lancaster, David W. Groff, of Phoenix, AZ, Laura L. Watt, wife of Clark Thompson, of Philadelphia, PA, and Timothy I. Watt, husband of Amity Gaige, Amherst, MA, two brothers, John C., husband of Betty Arnold, Simpsonville, SC, James J., husband of Liz Arnold, of Manheim, PA, and ten grandchildren. Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend a Funeral Service with a Requiem Mass, on Saturday, August 4, at 11:00 A.M., at St. James Episcopal Church, 119 N. Duke Street, Lancaster, PA, with The Reverend David Peck officiating. The family will greet friends only on Friday, August 3, from 2:00 to 6:00 P.M., at The Groffs Family Funeral and Cremation Services, 528 W. Orange Street (corner of Orange and Pine), Lancaster, PA. If desired, memorial contributions in Ellen’s name may be made to the St. James Episcopal Church Capital Campaign, 119 N. Duke Street, Lancaster, PA 17602, or the Fulton Theater, 12 N. Prince Street, PO Box 1865, Lancaster, PA 17608-1865. We suggest Out of Town Travelers call any of these 3 hotels, request their Bereavement Discount and mention our Funeral Home name: • Lancaster Arts Hotel: 717 299 3000 • Cork Factory Hotel: 717 735 2075 • Lancaster Marriott at Penn Square: 717 239 1600

Ellen Arnold Groff

July 30, 2012