Thomas E. Groves, 87, died Monday, March 4, 2024.

He was born July 30, 1936, son of Henry T. and Evelyn Lorraine Ashcraft Groves.

Thomas was vice-president of operations for Permanent Magnets and a member of Middletown Christian Church.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Nancy Norvell Groves and is survived by his children, Thomas "Tad" E. Groves, Jr. (Julie) and Vanessa Paige Smith (Brian); grandchildren, Sheridan, Cullen, Mar and Franklin; and a sister, Sue Owen.

His funeral is 10am Saturday, March 9, 2024 at Fern Creek Funeral Home, 5406 Bardstown Road with private burial in Resthaven Memorial Park.  Visitation is 3-7pm Friday.

IN lieu of flowers, please consider contributions to Bike to Beat Cancer.

·        https://p2p.onecause.com/biketobeatcancer/brian-smith-10

Tom was born and raised in Fern Creek. He grew up on his father's farm and was a graduate of Fern Creek High School. He would often regale people with stories of his adventures on the farm.

Tom eventually attended Western Kentucky University, where he was a member of Sigma Chi fraternity. He met Nancy at college and chose his major so he could be in classes with her. They married shortly after graduating from WKU.

Tom was always mechanical and hands on. Tom's father took notice and put Tom to work repairing large farm equipment when he was in middle school. After college, Tom's mechanical skills and farm equipment experience sealed the deal for his first job in manufacturing.

Over the years, Tom's career would take them to Alabama, Georgia, Florida, Indiana and back to Kentucky. Tom and Nancy always made dear friends wherever they were.

Tom and Nancy eventually landed back in Fern Creek, Kentucky, where they lived in Glenmary subdivision for the past 20+ years.