Robert DeGroat

MEREDITH ---- Robert 'Bob' J. DeGroat, 96, passed away on Sunday, February 5, 2023, at Concord Hospital in Laconia, after a short illness.
Bob was born and raised in Pellettown, Frankford Township, Sussex County, New Jersey, on June 14, 1926. He was the son of
Stanley DeGroat, Sr. and Inez (Pyle) DeGroat.
He was married to the late Gloria (VanEtten) DeGroat for 58 years. Having lived in Beemerville, NJ for many years, he was a proud member and former chief of the Beemerville Volunteer (Wantage Township) Fire Department. He was a charter member of the Sussex Elks Lodge #2288. After retiring from 36 years working for Rutgers University New Jersey Agricultural Experimental Station, he moved to Wentworth, NH. There he was an active volunteer member of the Plymouth Regional Senior Center offering many volunteer hours of service including delivering Meals on Wheels for over 20 years.
He enjoyed car racing on TV, at New Hampshire Speedway, and at area small tracks. He had lovely flower gardens and grew vegetables and fruit which he ended up sharing with the bears on occasion.
Bob is survived by his sister Helen Martin, his four children, Alana Peckham and her husband Fred, of Le Raysville, PA, Susan Shelton and her husband Roger, of Sanbornton, NH, James 'Jimmy' DeGroat, of Branchville, NJ, and Charles 'Chuck' DeGroat and his wife Crystal, of Barnegat, NJ. He was very proud of his four grandchildren, Douglas and Kevin Peckham, Danielle DeGroat, and Robert 'Bobby' T. DeGroat, and his three great-grandchildren, Sarah, Stephanie, and Leo Peckham. He is also survived by his dear friend Maxine Fellows, and many nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his wife, parents, brother Stanley Jr., and sister Betty Hough.
A Memorial Service will be held on Monday, February 13, 2023, at 1:00pm, at the Pinkel Funeral Home, 31 Bank Street (Route 23), Sussex, NJ.
Friends may pay their respects to the family prior to the Funeral Service from 12:00pm at the funeral home.
There will be another Memorial Service on Thursday, February 16, 2023, at 2:00pm, at the Meredith Bay Colony Club, 21 Upper Mile Point Drive, Meredith, NH 03253.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in Bob's name to the Plymouth Regional Senior Center, 8 Depot Street, Plymouth, NH 03264, or Beemerville Fire Department, 227 County Road 519, Wantage, NJ 07461.
Wilkinson-Beane-Simoneau-Paquette Funeral Home & Cremation Services and 603Cremations.com, 164 Pleasant Street, Laconia, NH, is assisting the family with arrangements. For more information and to view an online memorial, please visit www.wilkinsonbeane.com.