Morris Joseph Groman, 87, died Jan. 20, 2017, at 3 p.m. at Bluffton Hospital surrounded by his family and friends after a brief illness with acute myeloid leukemia.
Morris was born Nov. 7, 1929, in Tiffin to the late Oliver J. and Esther M. (Gromann) Groman. On July 3, 1955, he married Carol Sammet Groman who survives.
Morris graduated from Bluffton High School in 1947 and from Bluffton College in 1951. He was an Army veteran, serving as a Petroleum Products Laboratory Technician in Pusan, Korea in 1953.
Morris was a chemist for two years at the Pillsbury Mills Feed Mix plant in Lima and at Sohio Chemical Co. in Lima for 30 years. He managed the Riley View Apartments in Bluffton for 10 years.
Morris served two terms on the Bluffton village council and three terms on the Bluffton Board of Public Affairs. He was a life-long member of St. John's United Church of Christ in Bluffton, sang with the choirs, and served many years as treasurer for the Sunday School.
He was a former Scoutmaster of Bluffton Troop 256 and received the Silver Beaver Award in 1973. As a Bluffton Lions Club member, he received the 2002 Bluffton Citizen of the Year Award.
He was a member of VOSH-Ohio (Volunteer Optometric Services to Humanity), serving as president of the Pandora Lay Team, helping collect and sort over three million used eyeglasses and participated with 12 VOSH-Ohio eyeglass missions overseas.
He was a member of the American Chemical Society, the Bluffton Shuffleboard Club, Bluffton American Legion Post #382, the Lima Korean War Veterans Association and sang with the Swiss New Year's Carolers.
Survivors also include three children, Dr. Darrell Groman of Bluffton, Doris (Robert) Edington of Thompson's Station, Tennessee, J. Daniel (Brenda) Groman of Columbus Grove; eight grandchildren, Misha and Christian Groman, Kyle, Travis and Jacob Edington, Krysti (Phil) Schey, Kurt (Amy) Groman and Joel (Rachel) Groman; and three great-grandsons, Korwynn and Renwyck Schey and Theo Groman.
He is also survived by a sister-in-law, Janet Groman of Lima; a former daughter-in-law Irina Groman of Elida and several nieces, nephews and cousins.
Morris was preceded in death by his brother, Allen O. Groman and his sister, Margaret A. Elsass; sister-in-law, A. Jean Groman; brother-in-law, Walter Elsass; and his maternal grandmother, Anna E. Gromann. Anna raised him in her Bluffton home after his parents had passed away when he was of age 3 and 4.
Services will be held at 2 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 24, at St. John's United Church of Christ, Bluffton with Pastor Carol Clements officiating.
Burial will be in Maple Grove Cemetery, Bluffton where military rites will be performed. Visitation will be Monday from 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. at Chiles-Laman Funeral & Cremation Services, Bluffton.
In lieu of flowers and gifts, memorial contributions may be made to St. John's United Church of Christ or Flag City Honor Flight.
Condolences may be expressed to the family at www.chiles-lamanfh.com.
