Sam Lee Grogg, Sr.

Sam L. Grogg, Sr., 90, Johnson City died Sunday, March 1, 2009 at the NHC of Johnson City. He was a native of Rural Retreat, Virginia, son of the late Luther P. and Matilda Hanshew Grogg. Sam was the retired Chairman of the Board of Giant Wholesale Grocery Corporation where he and Carl Young, Sr. were founders. He was a charter member, and deacon at the Clark Street Baptist Church, where he taught the mens Open Bible class for over fifty years. Sam was a veteran of WWII having served as a Staff Sergeant in the U. S. Marines and fought in both the Okinawa and Guam battles of the Pacific theater. He was a member and past president of the Johnson City Kiwanis Club, and had served on many boards in the area including: the Salvation Army, Boy Scouts, Volunteer '' Johnson City, Dawn of Hope, WACARCA, Haven of Mercy, the United Way, Senior Citizens Center, the Johnson City Medical Center and First Tennessee Bank. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his first wife, Mildred Miller Grogg in 1975; an infant son Anthony Grogg; a brother Robert Grogg; two sisters Ruby Brown and Coleen Grogg. Survivors include: his wife Letha Kyker Grogg of the home; two sons and daughters-in-law, Tom and Jeri Grogg of Madison, Wisconsin, Sam L, Jr. and Kay Grogg of Johnson City; a daughter, Linda Bishop of Antioch; a sister, Thelma Heick of Boston, Massachusetts; six grandchildren, Tyler Bishop, Holly Bishop Austin, Kevin Grogg, Kira Grogg, Lindsay Grogg and Lacy Grogg; two great grandchildren, Colby and Hayden Mayo; four nephews and three nieces-in-law, Jim, Jr. and Nancy Flick of Bristol, VA, Gary and Ann Grogg of Chattanooga, Carl and Jane Dixon of Boston, MA and Robert Heick of Louisville, Kentucky; two sisters-in-law, Betty Little and Patricia Slagle. A funeral service is scheduled for Monday, March 2, 2009 in the South Chapel of the Morris '' Baker Funeral Home, under the direction of Rev. James Cambron and Rev. William Lunsford. The family will receive friends from 5:00 p.m. until time of service at eight. A committal service will be conducted on Tuesday, March 3, 2009 at 3:30 p.m. in the Monte Vista Memorial Park with military honors provided by the Bristol VFW and the Tennessee National Guard. Active pallbearers will be selected from family and friends; honorary pallbearers will be the Open Bible Sunday School Class of the Clark Street Baptist Church. Family and friends are asked to assemble at the funeral home to leave in procession by 3:10 p.m. on Tuesday. Memorials may be made in the form of contributions to: the Clark Street Baptist Family Life Center, 200 Clark St., Johnson City, TN 37604 or the Good Samaritan Ministries, 100 N. Roan Street, Johnson City, TN 37601.