Robert F. Groff Jr.

Robert F. Groff, Jr., 93 years young, of Lancaster, PA died on Thursday, November 2, 2023. Born in Lancaster, he came into this world as the son of Robert F. Groff and Nancy Snyder Groff. For the next 93 years he shared his good fortune with his family, friends, his church and his community, and with it, his open smile, his twinkling eyes and his deep curiosity. It was a curiosity that was sometimes philosophical, sometimes whimsical, sometimes irreverent, and always joyful. His mantra was: God loves you; Let go, let God; Be here now! As he loved to recount, he heard “God loves you,” from Archbishop Desmond Tutu, when Tutu delivered the homily in Harrisburg for the installation of Nathan Baxter as Bishop. Bob always sat in the right front pew of his beloved St. James Episcopal Church. On the wall next to that pew was the inscription: “Death is but a refinement of life.” This he knew and believed. St. James named Bob a Life Vestry member. Bob was a ninth-generation Lancastrian. He possessed the natural confidence that comes with the Groff legacy dating back to 1695. He knew he was deeply rooted in Lancaster, and he knew Lancaster was a good place. Throughout his life, his sense of rootedness remained. He was the third generation to work in and eventually own the Fred F. Groff Funeral Home. Three of his children and one of his grandchildren are now in the funeral business. As you watch them work, you can see Bob’s spirit refined and working through them. This sense of self and place was expanded through fifteen years of time spent away. At thirteen, he left for Culver Military Academy in Indiana. From there he went on to Amherst College in Massachusetts. Upon graduation, he married, and enlisted in the Army, and became part of the Counterintelligence Corps at the age of 21, stationed in Philadelphia. He married Jean Carraci and had two children (Fred and Sandy Groff) by the time he was 23. After serving, Bob went to Mortuary school and then moved his family back to Lancaster to join the family business in 1955. Two more children (Lisa and David Groff) were born in Lancaster. Bob worked for 45 years as a respected and highly regarded funeral director. His entrepreneurial spirit led him to successfully acquire 14 funeral homes in his career. Accolades such as The Exemplar Award from the Lancaster Chamber of Commerce, were a source of great pride for him. There were a few life events that would deter most but Bob bounced back from each with a positive outlook for greater days ahead. Notably, Bob nearly lost his life in a horrific home invasion, in 1973. Squash served as a healthy foundation and staple in his life. He and his dear friend of forty years, Wally Otto, played often and afterward would go out to breakfast with a group of cherished friends. Those meaningful breakfasts continued throughout his life, long after Squash was no longer an option, but the storytelling still was. So legendary were Bob’s foibles that his long-time good friend Mike Abel found him to be the perfect subject for a myriad of cartoons, fondly referred to as “Bobtoons.” In 1976, Bob married Ellen Arnold Watt. She was an artist, and a life force, who brought two more children (Laura and Tim Watt) into Bob’s life. Married for thirty-six years, Bob and Ellen worked side-by-side growing the family business and were dedicated supporters of: The Lancaster Theological Seminary, Lancaster History, Hospice & Community Care, The Fulton Theatre, The Lancaster Museum of Art, Franklin & Marshall College, The Lancaster Symphony to name just a few. With their love of the Arts, they enjoyed supporting many artists in Lancaster and throughout the world. Unexpectedly, Ellen died in 2012, at the age of 67. Bob married Linda Frankenfield in 2017, a spiritual advisor to her church community, and a gifted woman with whom Bob shared his life, his curiosity and his spirit, as he continued to serve Lancaster. He was one of the founders of the Parish Resource Center, donating and raising significant funds; and he worked with many in the religious and business community. He proudly started a New Conversations Group that has met monthly for more than thirty-six years. The wonder of this man is lost if you talk only of his financial contributions or his fundraising acumen. He gave fully of himself. He encouraged and supported others with an energy that was transformational. Bob was an exceptional, very human, being. His favorite poem, by Walt Whitman says it best; “Oh Captain, My Captain, our fearful trip is done. The ship has weathr’d every track, the prize we sought is won”. Bob’s was a life full of mighty challenges, and of love, laughter, a large and loving family, deep friendships, intellectual and spiritual adventures, and pure joy. He will be remembered for this always. In addition to his wife Linda, Bob is survived by his children: R. Fred Groff husband of Robin, Sandy Groff husband of Nancy, Lisa Groff spouse to Kerry Halloran, David Groff, Laura Watt wife to Clark Thompson, Dr. Tim Watt husband of Amity Gaige, stepsons Dustin Frankenfield husband to Rebecca and Colonel Gordon Frankenfield. Bob was very proud of each of his grandchildren: Dr. Robert Groff husband of Stephanie, Dan Groff husband of Kyle, Sanford Groff spouse of Tony Romano, Spencer Groff husband to Tresha, Susan Kelly wife of Jamie, Tanner Groff, Sydney Groff, Gus Thompson, Lydia Thompson, Atis Watt and Freya Watt. Bob was blessed to have known his six great-grandchildren: Isabella, Ellis, Anastasia, Reagan, James and George. Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend Bob’s Requiem Eucharist at St. James Episcopal Church, 119 N. Duke Street, Lancaster, PA 17063 on Saturday, November 11, 2023 at 11:00 a.m. with The Reverend David W. Peck as Celebrant. The family will receive friends from 9:30 a.m. until the time of service. A Viewing will be held at The Groffs Family Funeral Home, 528 W. Orange Street, Lancaster, PA 17603 on Friday afternoon, November 10, 2023 from 3:00 p.m.–6:00 p.m. A Livestream of the service will be available at SaintJamesLancaster.org. In true Bob fashion, colorful bow ties should be worn in his honor. A private family interment will be held at Greenwood Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family sincerely requests that a memorial contribution be made in Bob’s name to any organization that does positive things in our community or world. Bob believed deeply in this. To watch Bob's service click on the link: https://www.saintjameslancaster.org/funeral-service