JOHNSON CITY - William Boyd Grove died October 27, 2023, in Johnson City, Tennessee, at the age of 94, secure in Christ's promise of resurrection. He was a Christian, a follower of Jesus, and a bishop in the United Methodist Church.

Born on April 24, 1929, in Johnstown, PA, he was the oldest of three sons of William Morgan Grove and Elizabeth Boyd Grove. He graduated from Bethany College (BA), Drew University (MDiv), and Pittsburgh Theological Seminary (DMin) and was recipient of several honorary degrees. In 1992 he was named a Distinguished West Virginian by Governor Gaston Caperton.

For 72 years he was married to Mary Lou Naylor Grove, whom he had known since childhood and who was his partner in life and ministry. They were parents of two daughters.

Bishop Grove was ordained in 1954 in the Pittsburgh Conference of the Methodist Church, where he served four pastoral appointments and was elected delegate to the General and Jurisdictional Conferences from 1968 through 1980.

In 1980 he was elected and consecrated a bishop and assigned to the West Virginia Episcopal Area (1980-92) and the Albany (NY) Area (1992-96). He was called from retirement to serve the West Virginia Area again in 2012.

Bishop Grove had lifelong commitments to social justice and the unity of Christ's Church and served as president of the denomination's General Board of Church and Society (1984-88) and General Commission on Christian Unity and Interreligious Concerns (1988-96).

In 1996 he was named Ecumenical Officer of the Council of Bishops, the first to hold that office. He led United Methodist delegations to the National Council of Churches, the Consultation on Church Union, and the World Council of Churches Assembly in Harare, Zimbabwe.

Bishop Grove had deep and abiding love for the mountains and the people of Appalachia, especially West Virginia, where he and Mary Lou returned in retirement and lived until moving to Johnson City, TN in 2017 to be near family. He chaired the Appalachian Development Committee for the UMC and worked tirelessly to advocate for the region.

Bishop Grove was a poet and hymn-writer. He was known for his wisdom, grace, encouragement, and kindness and as a builder of bridges. He had a gift for relationships and was beloved by people around the world who were profoundly influenced by his life and example.

He was predeceased by his parents and one brother, Robert Morgan Grove, and one sister (by marriage) Jane Naylor.

In addition to his wife Mary Lou, he is survived by his children, Douglas (by marriage) and Susan Grove-DeJarnett and Rebecca Janczewski; grandchildren Hannah Grove-DeJarnett, Ryan (by marriage) and Gretchen Frankenberry, Alex (by marriage) and Carissa Park, Daniel William Janczewski, and Sarah Janczewski; great-grandchildren Julia Frankenberry and Thatcher William Frankenberry; siblings Barbara (by marriage) and David Grove and Susan Kilmer Grove (by marriage); several cherished nieces and nephews; and countless clergy sons and daughters across the Church.

The Grove family expresses deep gratitude to the staff of Colonial Hill Retirement Center, who became family to him, and to the staffs of Johnson City Medical Center and SOFHA, especially Dr. Michael Snyder, Dr. Paula Smith, Kimberly Jackson, and Andy Bollinger, for their compassionate care.

Suggestions for memorial gifts include The United Methodist Foundation of West Virginia for ministries and relief aid to children in war-torn areas; The William Boyd and Mary Lou Grove Trust at the United Methodist Foundation of West Virginia; and The Bishop William Boyd Grove and Mary Lou Grove Scholarship Fund at West Virginia Wesleyan College.

Funeral for Bishop Grove will be held at 1:30 pm on November 16, at Christ Church United Methodist in Charleston, WV.

Memories and condolences may be shared with the family via www.morrisbaker.com

Morris-Baker Funeral Home, 2001 E Oakland Ave, Johnson City, Tennessee, is honored to serve the Grove family. (423) 282-1521

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by Johnson City Press on Nov. 3, 2023.

Memories and Condolences
for William Grove

Sponsored by Morris-Baker Funeral Home & Cremation Services.

1 Entry

Linda (Sweger) Burrows

November 1, 2023

Rev. Grove was the one of the most wonderful men and ministers whom I have met. He was pastor of Friendship Park Methodist Church in Pittsburgh, PA in the early 1950's. I was 11 years old when he baptized me in 1954, as my mother was raised a Baptist and did not believe in infant baptism. He confirmed me in the Methodist Church later that year. I had the utmost respect for his knowledge, wisdom and depth of spirituality and faith. Rev. Grove co-officiated at my marriage to my husband Robert, at Saint Mary's Catholic Church in Pittsburgh in 1974. His sermons were the best that I have ever heard preached over my lifetime. He helped to shape my life long trust and faith in God and to continue in sharing God's love with others. I know that he will be missed by all of those many, many lives he has touched. I pray for his family as they grieve the loss of this wonderful man, husband, father, grandfather, uncle and friend. We know where he is now, at rest and at home in the everlasting arms of our loving Father and Lord. Peace...Linda (Sweger) Burrows Sewickley, PA