Albert Grouge

Albert (Al) Grouge, age 88, passed away on Friday, July 29, 2022 in Ashburn, VA.  Al was born in Mahanoy City, PA, on August 28, 1933 to Lithuanian parents and was 100% Lithuanian. He grew up in that area, which he called “Polka Land,” with his sister, Patricia, and attended Catholic school for 12 years. Al loved the outdoors, spending much time hunting and fishing with his father. He was an avid boy scout and achieved the coveted God & Country Award. After graduation from high school, Al decided not to work in the local coal mine and moved to Washington, DC, where he got a job working for the Navy Department until he was drafted into the Army in 1953. During his stint in the Army, he met Pat Deely and they were married in 1956. After Al was honorably discharged from the Army, he started working for the Navy Department again and worked at the Navy Annex, the main Navy Yard, and finished his 38 year career at the Pentagon. He was a Budget Analyst assigned to the Navy’s shipbuilding account which afforded him the opportunity to travel to the various shipyards around the country. He retired in 1989.  Al and Pat lived in Arlington and Vienna, VA, and had four children. Al was a coach in Vienna Little League for many years and enjoyed teaching and coaching his children. They bought a family vacation home on Long Beach Island, NJ, in 1978 and spent much time there enjoying the shore, hosting family and guests, and hanging out with the Deely clan.

Sadly, Pat passed away in 1988 after an eleven-year struggle with cancer. Al’s plans to retire to a house on a golf course and be a bachelor for the rest of his life changed when he met Bonnie Kerr, whose husband passed away unexpectedly in 1986. Neither Al nor Bonnie were looking for a relationship but they both believed that God had other plans for them. They fell in love and were married in November of 1989.

Al was raised Catholic and Bonnie was Presbyterian and they attended services at both denominations. Over the years, they became very active at Vienna Presbyterian Church (VPC) and Al eventually became a full-time member there. Al joined the Men’s Group, he volunteered as a youth club helper, an ESOL volunteer, and become a Stephen Minister. Three mornings a week, Al volunteered at the reception desk where he greeted visitors and was very helpful to staff. He also loved to sing and was a member of the VPC Touring Choir.  The choir held concerts at nursing homes and other locations in the Metro area, and even took a trip to Europe when they sang at churches in Scotland and Denmark.

Al also filled up his retirement years by playing golf, taking care of the yard, and ensuring there was enough wood stacked for the fireplace. He joined a master gardener program at Merrifield Garden Center and received a 2-year degree in Turf Management from Northern Virginia Community College. He and Bonnie would frequently volunteer at certain events such as farmers markets to provide advice to others about plants and lawns.

Recently, Al said he wanted to be remembered as a “good guy,” who just plodded along in daily life like everyone else, loving the Lord, loving Bonnie, loving his family, and loving the life that God gave him. He will be missed deeply by friends and family who loved him right back.

Al was predeceased by his wife Pat and his son Al, III.  He is survived by his wife, Bonnie, of Ashburn, VA and his sister Patricia (Ed) Carlson of Millsboro, DE.  He is also survived by his son Robert (Kimberly) of Warrenton, VA; his son Tim (Jan) of Charlotte, NC; his daughter Theresa (Beth) of Arlington VA; and his daughter-in-law Lee (Al III) of Manassas, VA as well as stepson Rob (Carrie) Kerr of Chesterfield, VA and stepdaughter Jennifer (Craig) Shye of Strasburg, VA, and 16 grandchildren and 4 great grandchildren.

A celebration of Al’s life will be held at 3:00 pm on Friday, August 26, 2022, in Farmwell Hall at Ashby Ponds Senior Living Community in Ashburn VA.  A reception with refreshments will be held immediately after the ceremony in the Shenandoah and Middleburg rooms of the Blue Ridge Clubhouse.