William Grover

William C. Grover, 77, of Haverhill, formerly of Georgetown, died Thursday, Nov. 25, 2010, at the Merrimack Valley Hospice House after a six-month long battle with cancer.Born in Chelmsford, he was the son of the late, Ariston and Mildred (Russell) Grover. Educated in Groton Public Schools, he was a graduate of Groton High School, Class of 1950.A veteran of the Korean War, Mr. Grover proudly served in the U.S. Coast Guard during that period. He would spend the next 43 years affiliated with the different branches of the U.S. Armed Services. He served in the U.S. Naval Reserves, until 1962 and followed with service in the Mass Army National Guard, retiring from the Army reserves in 1993.He was a member of the Georgetown American Legion, Rene Gagne Post 211. Mr. Grover’s career spanned over 34 years employed by the State of Massachusetts. Working in the Department of Mental Health, and Department of Corrections, he worked at various facilities around the state, which included Concord and Norfolk Prisons, and Taunton State Hospital, the Hogan Regional Center, Danvers State Hospitals, and St. Anne’s Home, in Danvers. He was a regional business comptroller and was a business manager for the Department of Social Services.Although Mr. Grover retired in 1995, he never stopped working, he enjoyed keeping busy, always doing for friends or family, he was the ultimate handyman, forever willing to lend a helping hand to a neighbor, friend or even stranger. His devotion to family, community, and country, was exemplary.He leaves his beloved wife of 49 years, Roberta J. (D’Arcangelo) Grover of Haverhill two sons, Warren A. Grover, of Jacksonville, Fla., Michael J. Grover and his wife Victoria of Haverhill daughters, Kathleen J. Grover of West Newbury, Lisa M. Grover and her fiance Al Paglio of Milton, N.H., Linda A. Lankowski and her spouse Tina Jablonski of Haverhill, Gayle J. Baird and her other half, James Crummey of Louden, N.H., and Deborah Lister of North Andover grandchildren, Shawn Schofield, Megan Stewart, Kayla Grover, Jadien Howard, Amber Nicosia, Jilletta Jarvis, James Baird seven great-grandchildren a brother, Kenneth R. Grover and his wife Kathie of Ocean Park, Wash. a sister, Betty Ann Fear, of Columbus, Ind. and several nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his son, William C. Lankowski and siblings, Ariston E. Grover, and Ruth L. Flaherty.ARRANGEMENTS: Friends and family are respectfully invited to call on Friday, Dec. 3, at the Kevin B. Comeau Funeral Home, 486 Main St., Haverhill from 5 to 8 p.m. Memorial services will be held on Saturday at 10 a.m. in the funeral home. Burial, with military honors, will follow in Linwood Cemetery, Haverhill. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Merrimack Valley Hospice House, 360 Merrimack St., Lawrence, MA 01860.