Obituary of Billy Grooms

Billy “Captain Bill” Grooms West Ashley Billy Grooms, 84, of Charleston, SC, went to be with the Lord Saturday, October 24, 2015. The funeral service/celebration of his life will be held Thursday, October 29 at 7:00pm at Coastal Community Church located at 460 Arlington Road off Hwy 17 West Ashley. Visitation with the family will precede the service from 6:00pm-7:00pm. Burial with full military honors will follow at noon on Friday at the National Cemetery in Beaufort, SC. Bill was born in Ponotoc, OK on February 7, 1931, to the late William Hiram Grooms and the late Madge Viola Millican Grooms. A resident of Charleston for the past 49 years, retired QMCM Grooms spent 23 years as a submariner in the U.S Navy followed by 28 as the captain/owner of two deep sea fishing boats, the JJ and the Silver Dolphin. He was a member of the Fleet Reserve Association Branch #269 in Goose Creek and the American Legion Post 0208 in Charleston. After his 51 years on the water, when not traveling with his family, Bill enjoyed painting, gardening, and tinkering around the house . Predeceased by four siblings, Bill is survived by Dorothy Ann, his beloved wife and best friend of 64 years, and his only child, Dr. Linda Diane Grooms, professor at Regent University in Virginia Beach, VA. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to Hospice of Charleston, 4975 Lacross Rd, Suite 200, North Charleston, SC 29406. Arrangements have been made by Simplicity in North Charleston.