Donald Gregg Groves

Don Groves,89, of Athens quietly passed away on Monday, July 19, 2021 due to complications of Parkinson’s disease. He fought a hard battle.
In addition, to his parents Don is preceded in death by his wife, Madeline Mae McClain Groves.
Left behind to cherish his memory, his daughter, Madeline “Bambi” (Jack) Garvin of Athens; his 2 grandsons, Christopher Outlaw, and Andrew (Meredith) MacLeod, and great granddaughter Aida MacLeod.
To many he was known as the “Energizer Bunny” as so many times he would be at deaths door, but he would always bounce back. This time there is no bouncing back. The batteries are wore out.
Born June 12, 1932 to parents Leon Jackson Groves and Fairy Kathryn (Bixler) in Winter Haven, Florida. At the age of 4 Don moved to Miami, where he lived across the street and 4 doors down from his future bride Madeline, almost their entire life. They were married in 1957 until her passing in 2004. Don graduated Miami Jackson High School in 1950.
Mr. Groves lived in Miami, Florida until 2004 and then he moved to Oregon to be close to his married daughter. To be with his daughter he then moved to Temple, Georgia in 2012, and remained there until moving to Athens in 2020.
Don worked in banking starting out as a delivery boy and working his way up to vice president and controller. Don never earned his college degree.
Although he was a quiet man, he had a great sense of humor! He was quick to laugh and always had a good time.
Don loved gospel music, he and his daughter would attend the National Quartet Convention of Gospel Music often. Just days before his passing and barely able to speak he sang a sweet hymn with his nurse Stephanie.
As an only child he encouraged his daughter’s art interest and loved seeing anything she created.
The family would like to give a special thanks to Hospice of Chattanooga along with nurse Stephanie McAmis Wilson and Amanda Andrejek.
The family request that in lieu of flowers that memorial donations be Made to Hospice of Chattanooga.
You are invited to share a personal memory of Donald or your condolences with his family at his online memorial located at www.companionfunerals.com. Companion Funeral Home of Athens and the Cody family are honored to assist the family with these arrangements.