R. Kent Grover

Richard Kent Grover passed away on December 12, 2025, following a bad fall in August and rapidly declining health. Kent was born in Salt Lake City, UT on February 4, 1931, to James Millard Grover and Hulda Valborg Feragen Grover. He was raised in Provo, UT and graduated from Provo High School where he was active in the debate and drama clubs. In 1950 he served as a radar specialist in Korea and achieved the rank of Army Master Sergeant. He utilized the GI bill to attend the University of Utah, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering in 1956. While at the university, he met and married Nora Ruth Smith in 1955. After graduation he began his lifelong career in America's defense and countermeasure programs. He worked at General Electric in Utica, NY and then Sandia Laboratories in Albuquerque, NM. In 1960 they moved to Scottsdale, AZ where he worked for Motorola Government & Military Electronics Division until his retirement in 1995. Kent was instrumental in important programs for the Air Force, such as SU-AWACS and the AN/ALQ-122 radar jammer on the nose and tail of B-52s.
Kent had many unique experiences working with his dad, who supported his creative learning. He learned about hard work, resilience, and determination – values that would mark his life and help propel his many successes. Kent was interested in electronics from a very early age, and his mind was always considering new possibilities and inventions. He has numerous patents to his name and even in the last few months of his life, he was considering ways to create and improve life and objects around him.
Kent enjoyed tennis, racquetball, handball, snow skiing, water skiing, fly fishing, hiking, hunting, and designing electronic toys for his great grandchildren. While in Albuquerque, he built his own boat from scratch and enjoyed taking the family out for some fun and water skiing on the lake.
Kent was preceded in death by his wife of 48 years, Nora S. Grover (2003), his parents Jim and Hulda Grover (1983), his younger sister Rae Marlene (1933), and his granddaughters Amber (2009) and Emerald Grover (1998.)
He is survived by his children: Thomas Scott Grover of Tucson, AZ; Dr. Paul W. Grover (Carol) of Cypress, TX; and Patricia A. Grover of Phoenix, AZ. He leaves behind three grandchildren Benjamin Grover (Holly) of Phoenix, AZ, Daniel Grover (Rebekah) of Lubbock, TX, and Crystal Grover Jones (Benjamin) of Burleson, TX as well as eleven great grandchildren.
The family would like to thank the wonderful team of caregivers at Desert Orchid Assisted Living and Hospice of the Valley for their kind and compassionate care.