Perlita B Groover

Perlita Bucaloy Groover, 83, passed away peacefully on August 8, 2025, in Savannah, GA after bravely contending with Parkinson's disease for many years.

Perlita was born in the Philippines on August 24, 1941, a few months before WWII crossed its shores. When she was six years old, she immigrated to the United States after qualifying for citizenship due to her father's service and ultimate sacrifice as a Filipino resistance fighter during the war. Her mother, Josefina, remained in the Philippines while allowing her identical twin sister, Juanita, to adopt and raise Perlita so that she could have more opportunities in America. Accordingly, Perlita always considered herself to have had two mothers.

She grew up in Monterey, CA and attended local schools where she met her lifelong best friend, Linda McNeal Millerick. She graduated from Monterey High School in 1960 and earned her associate's degree from Monterey Peninsula College. In 1962, Perlita crossed paths with William "Bill" Kenneth Groover when he was stationed at the Presido of Monterey. It was love at first sight. They became engaged within two weeks, married within three months, and shared 56 years together until his death in 2019.

Perlita faithfully served her country and her family as a US Army wife and mother for 20 years, rearing three sons during this time: Kenneth, Douglas (Kristin), and Daniel. After Bill retired from the Army, they had one daughter, Holly (Gopikrisshna), and Perlita worked as a professional crafter creating displays for local shops and craft shows.

The name Perlita means "little pearl", signifying her preciousness-and so she was to anyone who met her. Kind, warm, and genuinely interested, she never met a stranger. Ever a loving friend and neighbor, her nickname, "Perky", conveyed her cheerful demeanor. Perlita was gifted with creativity-excelling at ceramics, drawing, painting, sewing, knitting, crocheting, cooking, baking, and gardening. Tenderhearted, she treasured pets throughout life, at different times keeping cats, dogs, an armful of parrots, a goose, and a rooster.

She leaves behind four children, four grandchildren, and one great-grandchild, in addition to her brother, Sonny, her sister, Merle, and several nieces and nephews.

The family is holding a private memorial service.