Virgil Tilman Grove, age 84, of Woodbury, MN and formerly of White Bear Lake, MN passed away peacefully on Thursday March 28, 2019 at the Waverly Gardens Care Center in North Oaks, MN. He was preceded in death by his wife, Shirley Grove, of 52 years.
Virgil was born August 15, 1934 to Tilman and Vivian Grove in Minneapolis, MN. He spent his early years living in Climax, MN before his family moved to Detroit, MI during WWII. They later returned to Minneapolis where Virgil graduated from Minneapolis Vocational High School in 1953. He then went on to graduate from the University of St. Cloud in 1958.
Virgil married Shirley Hillestad on December 28, 1959 at the Shattuck Chapel of the Good Shepherd, in Faribault, MN. The newlyweds moved to El Paso, Texas where he served with the Army stationed at Fort Bliss. After completing his tour of duty, they moved to Baltimore, MD where Virgil taught drafting for five years in the Baltimore County School System.
The couple moved back to Minnesota in 1966, settling in White Bear Lake. Virgil was employed as a guidance counselor at Forest Lake High School and also worked with GED students to get their diplomas. He retired in 1998, with 35 years of service in education. In retirement Virgil pursued his interest in golf, photography, and travel.
Virgil’s lifelong passion was furthering the value of education and working with kids. One of his proudest achievements was co-founding the Forest Lake Area Community Scholarship Foundation (CSF) in 1973. Last year, the program awarded over $200,000 in scholarships to help in continuing vocational interests of students. In 2016, Virgil was awarded the CSF Distinguished Service Award for his lifelong commitment to community service. Another part of his passion, working with kids, was coaching his son Brian’s youth baseball team for several years and knowing the lifelong impact he had on many of the players.
Virgil will be remembered for his unwavering sense of humor, no matter what his circumstance. He will be deeply missed by his two sons, Kevin (Julie) Grove of Hammond, WI and Brian (Matt Johnson) Grove of Hopkins, MN and one special granddaughter, Elizabeth Grove.
Visitation from 4 – 8 pm Wed, 4/3/19, at Mueller Memorial, 4738 Bald Eagle Ave., White Bear Lake and 1 hour prior to the service at church. Funeral Service 11 am Thur, 4/4/19, at Community of Grace Lutheran Church, 4000 Linden Ave., White Bear Lake. Interment at Meadow Ridge Memorial Park in Faribault.
Memorials are preferred to:
Forest Lake Community Scholarship Foundation where a high school scholarship has been set up in Virgil's name.
