Obituary of Thomas J. Groff

Thomas J. Groff, 73, of Ava, passed away on Sunday, March 27, 2022 at Rome Health. He was born in Rome on July 24, 1948, a son of the late John “Jack” and Eleanor (Monroe) Groff. He was a graduate of Camden High School, Class of 1966. He enlisted in the United States Marines and served two tours in Vietnam before being honorably discharged as a Master Sargent. On August 29, 1981, he was united in marriage to Brenda Seaton. Tom worked at the Rite Aid Distribution Center in Rome from 1978-94. He owned and operated TJ’s Fitness in Rome from 1992-1999. After closing the gym, he went back to school at MVCC to earn his HVAC certificate and worked at EMI International until his retirement. Tom loved to hunt and fish. He fished the canal, the Salmon River and later became a competitive bass angler. He later took up golf and made many new friends on the course. He was a member of the Arthur S. Moran Post 66 in Camden. Surviving besides his loving wife of 40 years, Brenda; a sister, Kathy Williams; his mother-in-law, Evelyn Seaton, whom he adored; brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Daniel and Millie Seaton; and several nieces, nephews and cousins. He was predeceased by a brother, James Groff, and a brother-in-law, David Williams. Tom’s family would like to express their gratitude to the wonderful staff in ICU at Rome Health for their amazing care and compassion. Funeral services will be held on Friday, April 1st at 10:00 a.m. at Nunn and Harper Funeral Home, Inc. ,418 N. George St., Rome. Interment will take place in Carmichael Hill cemetery later this spring. Family and friends are invited to call at the funeral home on Thursday, March 31st from 4-7:00 p.m.