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Kenneth L. Groves, 88, passed away on Sunday, January 20, 2008 in Albuquerque, NM where he had lived for 58 years after moving from Dallas TX in 1951. He is survived by his loving wife of 67 years Ruth Chapman Groves. He was preceded in death by his son, Robert Chapman Groves of Las Cruces, NM. He is also survived by his son, Kenneth Lee Groves and his wife, Coni of Albuquerque, NM. He is also survived by five grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; and numerous nephews and nieces. Ken graduated from Sunset High School in Dallas TX in 1937 and received a certificate in commercial arts from Dallas Technical School in 1938. He joined the Texas National Guard in 1937 as a member of the 143rd light infantry. When the Texas National Guard was called to active duty in November of 1940, he was one of a number of sergeants offered a direct commission as a second lieutenant in the 144th Infantry Division because of his superior qualifications. He married his high school sweetheart, Ruth Chapman, on the May 29, 1941 when he was stationed at Camp Bowie, TX. On the evening of December 7, 1941, he and his unit received orders to report to Ft. Lewis, WA where they were to be transferred to Alaska to battle the Japanese who had invaded the Aleutian Islands. The trains left Dallas the following morning, and when they arrived in WA after 5 days their assignment was changed to set up coastal defenses in WA, OR, and northern CA. Ken was assigned duties as the adjutant of the headquarters company of the 144th Infantry. He remained on duty at various stations throughout the northern pacific until December of 1942 when he was transferred to Charleston, SC to command the signal operating company of the 45th Division. He was responsible for 200 men who manned 100-foot communications towers on the coasts of North and South Carolina where defenses were set up in anticipation of German soldiers landing by submarine. Other assignment included Camp Van Doren, MS; Ft. Benning, GA; Ft. Smith, TX and Ft. Rucker, AL. On July 13, 1945 (the day his second son Robert was born) he shipped out of San Francisco, CA, to the Philippines Islands as a member of the 3rd Battalion of the 63rd Infantry. Within six weeks he was transferred to Punson, Korea as a member of the US occupation forces who were responsible for returning 60,000 Japanese soldiers to Japan. He returned to the states and was discharged from active duty in November, 1945, as a Captain in the Infantry. He remained in the Texas National Guard until 1951 as a Major in the 49th Armored Division. When the Groves family moved to Albuquerque in 1951, Ken was responsible for the building of the Wherry housing project on what was then Sandia Base. After building 760 homes in less than 8 months he stayed on to manage the project until 1958 when the housing was transferred to Kirtland AFB. Ken then worked for the base engineers starting as the housing manager and ultimately taking over as the base safety officer in 1965. He later took over as the safety officer for the Defense Nuclear Agency where he retired from in 1984 after 20+ years of federal service. After his retirement Ken taught Safe Driving classes for the New Mexico AAA and for the Metro Court System. Ken was very active in the Boy Scouts as a member of the Executive Council for over 12 years and he served as a pack leader, troop leader, and post leader as well as the institutional representative for the Boy Scouts. He was President of the American Society of Safety Engineers (ABQ chapter) and a Master Level member of the American Society of Military Engineers. Ken was an avid golfer and was involved in the planning and building of the golf course on Kirtland AFB. He was a New Mexico State Senior Golf Champion and was very proud of his "Green Jacket". Ken was a charter member of the Bernalillo County Sheriffs' Posse, a member of the New Mexico Mounted Patrol, the Albuquerque Chamber of Commerce, the Association of General Contractors and the Homebuilders Association. Services will be held Friday, January 25, 2008, 10:00 a.m., at French Mortuary, Lomas Blvd. Chapel. Interment will take place at Santa Fe National Cemetery at 1:00 p.m. with Military Honors. Friends may visit Thursday, January 24, 2008, 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to American Heart Association, NM Affiliate, 2201 San Pedro NE, Building 2, Suite 102, 87110. French Mortuary, Inc. 10500 Lomas Blvd. NE 505.275.3500 www.frenchmortuary.com
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