Lawrence Grove Obituary

Lawrence Jon Grove

Lawrence (Larry) Grove, of Findlay, passed away in peace Wednesday morning, December 31, 2025. Born in Toledo, to Geraldine (Vonck) Grove and David Grove, October 20, 1949, he was a lifelong educator, perpetually young at heart, and deeply committed to the communities where he lived and worked.

Larry graduated from Rossford High School in 1967, where he met and fell in love with Patricia "Pati" (Kish) Grove. Larry and Pati married in 1970, and they both graduated from Bowling Green State University in 1971 with BS degrees in education. Larry began his 49-year career in education, teaching math and coaching boys' hockey at Whitmer High School (Toledo), earning coach of the year honors one year. After completing advanced degrees at BGSU and the University of Toledo, Larry became vice-principal at Glenwood Junior High (Findlay) in 1987 and principal at Cory-Rawson Middle School (Rawson) in 1991. Larry co-founded Findlay Digital Academy in 2004, serving as principal from FDA's inception until 2017, and continued working there as a part-time tutor.

Larry loved everything related to ice hockey, coaching and assisting with teams for many years, refereeing and playing goalie in the Findlay Adult Hockey League into his 70s, driving the Zamboni at The Cube (Findlay), and sharpening skates at his home business, Larry's Skate Service. He was an amateur photographer, documenting school and community events for years and winning a newspaper photograph contest in The Courier (Findlay). His youthful passion for riding motorcycles and waterskiing while growing up on the Maumee River carried over later in life, as he enjoyed working on his BMW and Honda bikes and restoring antique outboard engines.

Larry dedicated much of his time to serving the Findlay community. He cherished volunteering with Gliding Stars of Findlay's adaptive ice skating programs, teaching Sunday School and singing in the choir at Trinity Lutheran Church (Findlay), and serving as a board member at Blanchard Valley Center's Hancock County Board of Developmental Disabilities.

Larry was preceded in death by his wife, Pati, brother, David; and sister, Sarah. He is survived by his sons, Alan and Kevin; daughter-in-law Jody; grandson, Rhen; sister Cynthia; and sister-in-law, Victoria.

Larry and Pati's love of teaching and community greatly inspired their two sons, Kevin and Alan, who both have established careers in education. Kevin married Jody Wetzel and gave Larry one grandson, Rhen, who has become exactly the kind of energetic middle schooler Larry loved teaching throughout his life.

Memorial service will begin at 2 p.m. Saturday, March 28, 2026, at Trinity Lutheran Church, 935 W. Bigelow Ave, Findlay.

In lieu of flowers, if you would like to donate in Larry's name, his family asks that you honor his legacy with a contribution to local youth programs supporting children with special needs, or youth recreation and educational activities. A few organizations Larry supported in the Findlay area included Gliding Stars of Findlay and Grace Speaks.