Capt. W.D. "Denny" GROVES SC USN Ret.

76, passed away peacefully June 1, 2016 surrounded by his family. Denny was born in Hays, KS in 1939 and graduated from Fremont High School and Midland Lutheran College in Fremont, NE. Denny was an athlete in basketball, baseball, and track. He was a leading scorer in basketball all four years in college, setting the scoring record for a single season and a four-year career. He was inducted into the Midland College Athletic Hall of Fame in 1984, and was 1965 MVP for the U.S. Navy Interservice Championship win. Denny joined the U.S. Navy, earned his officer's commission in 1962, commanded the DLA Systems Automation Center, and retired after 27 years of worldwide assignments. Denny loved and served his church with the same fervor he lived his life; he 'preached' the Walk to Emmaus, where he found his own faith wings. Denny served the children of our community through his Kiwanis leadership for over 25 years. He was a story teller and an avid golfer. Denny is survived by his wife of 26 years, Faye; two daughters, Micky (Dan) Mulligan and Lori (Cedrick) Watkins; two sons, Chief Warrant Officer 4 Jason (Cathy) Groves, USMC and Kelly (Traci) Hamilton; brother, Dean (Betty) Groves; and the nine best grandchildren in the world, Wil, Kyle, Private First Class Perry, USMC, Rae-Kelly, Naval Academy Plebe, Gabby, Jacob, Riley, Lukas, and Nathan. Celebration of Life Service will be Saturday, June 18, 11:00 am, at South Shore United Methodist Church, 11525 Big Bend Rd., Riverview. In lieu of flowers, the family invites you to help perpetuate the gift of life Denny received in 2009, by donating to the Tampa General Hospital, Help a Heart Fund, which assists heart transplant recipients with expensive medications not covered by insurance gaps. https://tghsecureforms.org/make-gift. Arrangements by Sun City Center Funeral Home, Sun City Center, (813) 634-9900, where you may view the full obituary.