1928-2026
Virginia Grove passed away at 98 on Nov. 1, 2026, from natural causes in the Arbor Springs Care Facility in West Des Moines.
Virginia May Payne was born on Aug. 16, 1928, to Omar and Olive Payne in Jamison, Iowa. She was raised with two sisters, Betty and JoAnn, and three brothers, Kenneth, Tommy and Truman. Virginia grew up on farms in central Iowa and enjoyed school, receiving an award as a Champion Speller in Guthrie County on March 1, 1941. She graduated from Panora High School May 16, 1945, and thought about nursing as a career. She met her husband, Delbert Eugene Grove, at a skating rink and later married him on April 20, 1947. They both wanted a family and enjoyed raising their three children, Sheryl, John and Susan, on rental farms until they purchased their own farm in the 1960s. It was a wonderful experience when they made their final farm payment, and they owned their land and buildings.
Virginia was active at Bowman Chapel and participated in many services and fundraisers there. She was especially proud of the wonderful watermelons that she grew and how people looked forward to purchasing them each year. Virgina loved quilting and enjoyed working with the ladies of the church to develop a new quilt each year. Virgina had a wonderful garden that she loved tending, canning and freezing foods for family and later grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Virginia was an excellent cook and is most noted for her apple pie at family gatherings. Virginia was a lover of dachshunds and always had them as pets throughout her life. Samuel will go with her to her final resting place. Virginia was a noted seamstress who made clothes for Sheryl and Susan as they grew up, as well as other family members for weddings and special events.
Later in her life, Virginia wanted to go back to school and get her nursing degree, her major life goal. She graduated from Iowa Western Community College in Harlan Center, Iowa, on Aug. 27, 1971. Virginia was the president of the student body and provided the commencement speech for her class. She became a licensed practical nurse (LPN) in 1971. We were so proud of her. She was active in nursing for many years and provided care to many in need.
Virginia is survived by her son, John Grove (wife Elaine) of Nashville, Tennessee, and her daughter Susan Grove Suggs of Dallas, Texas. Her grandchildren include Todd (Lisa) Grove, Mia (Chris) Barr, and Jason (Jessica) Grove, all of Des Moines. Two additional grandchildren include Monece (Steve) Appleton in Dallas, Texas, and Nicole Cullum in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Virginia has many great grandchildren including Victoria (Andrew) Stinson, Garbrielle (Carter) Pennington, Noah (Claudia) Barr, Jackson Barr, Max Barr, Ty Barr, Fisher Grove, Kingston Grove, Jack Appleton, Boone Appleton and Cole Appleton. Virginia has six great-great-grandchildren, Oliver, Aubrey, Eni, Lila, Leo and Cal. We will all miss her so much.
Virginia was preceded in death by her parents; her husband of 66 years, Delbert; five siblings; daughter, Sheryl Grove; and son-in-law, Jay Suggs.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m., Tuesday, Nov. 10, 2026, at the First United Methodist Church, Guthrie Center with visitation one hour prior to the services at the church. Burial will be in Union Cemetery, Guthrie Center.
Memorial contributions may be made Bowman Chapel United Methodist Church.
Twigg Funeral Home, Guthrie Center, is entrusted with her services.