John Andrew Groves Jr.

John Andrew Groves, Jr., 95, Born September 15,1930 died January 12, 2026.

John was born in Baltimore, Maryland and passed away in his home in Hartfield with his wife and oldest daughter by his side.

John attended high school at Baltimore Polytechnic Institute. In 1953 he graduated from the University of Maryland College of Engineering with a BS degree in civil engineering. Because he also majored in the Air Force ROTC upon graduation he was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the United States Air Force. The United States was at war with North Korea at the time and all officers with science and engineering degrees were immediately enrolled into the officer electronics school at Keesler AFB, Biloxi, Mississippi. While there he married his fiancé, Charlotte Rae Metzler, also from Baltimore. His final tour of duty was at a remote early warning radar site. John resigned from active military service as a Captain in 1955.

Missile technology became a passion for John, so he jumped on the invitation to join the Space and Missile Systems division of AT&T’s Bell Laboratories in Whippany, N.J., where he became a member in the research and development technical staff in the design of anti-ballistic missile systems (ABM). As the senior engineer, John became the senior liaison engineer with the United States Army’s Strategic Missile Systems Command at the space center at the Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville, Alabama. When the SALT treaty of Russia tabled the United States development of the ABM system, John returned to Reading, PA, where he was placed in charge of plant engineering and design. He moved through several management positions in engineering, machine design, plant construction and production control. He retired from AT&T Technologies as Director of Facilities Engineering at the Reading location.

Following retirement, John and Charlotte built their lovely retirement home in Hartfield on Wilton Creek Rd. Deltaville was also the birthplace of Charlotte’s mother and Charlotte had many family ties there. There were many summers filled with family fun, boating, crabbing and great dancing with the River Club. He enjoyed boating and fishing especially when his grandchildren visited. They had a wonderful circle of friends, some who they traveled internationally with. They enjoyed traveling the world together, visiting 32 countries all in all.

John was an active member of Lower Methodist Church where he became a charter member of the UM Men's organization. He became the chairman of the building committee and led the design and construction of a major addition to the church facilities in 2003 and the church parking facilities in 2018.

They were actively involved in Community service as well as mission-oriented travel. John and Charlotte were voluntary emergency shock-trauma technicians (EMT) with the Middlesex County Volunteer Rescue Squad in Deltaville. There, John served as squad captain and treasurer. On a Honduran mission trip, they both provided and delivered vaccinations to rural communities.

John and his beloved Char had just celebrated their 72nd wedding anniversary in their home this past December 31, 2025.

John is survived by his wife, Charlotte of 72 years; oldest daughter, Susan Watkins, who lives with husband Jon in Kasilof, Alaska; son, John Andrew Groves III (Drew) and wife Kris in New Hampshire; youngest daughter, Jennifer Lynn Penley who lives with husband Chad in Hendersonville, North Carolina; six grandchildren, Col. Jason Watkins and wife Leah currently in Fairchild AFB, Dr. Jessica Diab with husband Michel also in Alaska, Taylor Baltzer with husband Jeff, in Rhode Island, Emma Baldacci with husband Justin in Connecticut, and Lydia Cardinal in Colorado, all living adventurous lives inspired by their beloved grandfather. In addition, he is blessed with nine great grandchildren; Payton, Brooklyn, Magnus, Maja, Linnea, Liam, Graham and Braith as well as Douglas, who is deceased.

A service will be held at a later date.

Faulkner Funeral Homes, Bristow-Faulkner Chapel, Saluda is assisting the family.