Frank Grogan

Frank T. Grogan Jr., 90, of Danville,VA, died on Wednesday, March 5, 2014 after being in declining health for the past year. He was receiving care at Hillcrest Convalescent Center in Durham, NC, at the time of his death. He was born in Danville, VA on October 27, 1923; a son of the late Frank T. Grogan Sr. and the late Eva Travis Grogan. He lived most of his life in Danville, graduated from George Washington high School, and within a few months of starting college in the Corps of Cadets at VPI (VA Tech), he enlisted in the U.S. Naval Air Corps. He trained as a pilot and served as a gunnery/marksman instructor during World War II. His lifelong love of the water and boats was nurtured during his time in the Navy. Back on land, during a 3-day leave period from the U.S. Navy in 1944, he was able to borrow a car, obtain donated gasoline ration coupons, marry and honeymoon at Fairystone Park, Virginia, with his childhood sweetheart, Alice Roark. They were inseparable life partners for 59 years until Alice's death in 2003. In 1946, after the war, he was one of twelve students to enter the inaugural class of VPI-Danville, newly located on the campus of Danville Technical Institute (later to become Danville Community College). In 1948 he returned to the Blacksburg campus of VPI and graduated with the class of 1950, with a degree in industrial engineering. Frank worked for a brief period as a plant engineer with Dupont in Delaware, until he and his now growing family returned home to Danville. He purchased a small ESSO (EXXON) oil distributorship with 2 trucks which began a 35 year career in oil and propane sales, including a changeover to Gulf Oil and then Marathon Oil. At Frank's retirement in 1985 Grogan Oil Co. Inc. had grown to serve oil, gas, and propane products to farms, homes, and industry throughout southern Virginia, including many retail gasoline outlets.. He loved new technology and in 1977 he became one of the first distributors in Virginia to offer solar heating systems and products. Throughout the years, Frank gave his time and resources to community and civic activities. As a teenager in the 1930's, he played and marched in the Danville Drum and Bugle Corps. In the 1960's he joined others to form the first board of trustees to financially back the development of Grove Park Recreation, Inc.; creating and developing the building of Grove Park Swimming Pool. In 1973 he joined the Danville Rotary Club where his devotion to club activities meant being honored with the Paul Harris Service to Mankind Award. He was one of the founding members of the Danville Science Center and honored the call for funding when the center was being built. He was a major supporter of the arts in Danville, especially music. He donated pianos to Mount Vernon Church and was the major donor for a Steinway piano for the North Theater renewal and repurposing. He was a strong supporter of Mount Vernon Church, having served on the church board and many committees during his 70-plus years of membership. He was recently presented with an Outstanding Alumnus Award from the Danville Community College Foundation. He was an avid member of the Danville German Club, where he was recognized as the pacesetter on the dance floor, often requiring multiple dance partners before taking a breath. Frank's love for travel and adventure took him on two around-the-world cruises, being on ship for 100-plus days on each trip. He loved to visit and explore new and remote places. His travels took him to many places, but he always felt that being able to return to his beloved Danville and his red Ford Mustang, were a major highlight of each trip abroad. Family and friends will miss his many travel stories and photos. In addition to his parents and wife, Frank was also predeceased in youth by a brother, Travis Grogan, and an older sister Dorothy King. Survivors include two sisters; Shirley Duncan of Centerville, Ohio, and Nancy Pittman of Pearl, Mississippi; two Sons; Dr. Frank T. Grogan III and wife Cathy of Danville, and Richard G. Grogan and wife Marcia of Durham, NC. Four grandchildren; Kelly Jordan of Danville, Kevin Grogan of Durham, NC, Neil Grogan of Durham, NC, and Tommy Grogan IV of Flagstaff, AZ. There are also four great grandsons and several nieces and nephews. Frank is also survived by his friend and companion, Anne T. Geyer. Funeral services will be conducted at 2 pm on Sunday, March 9th, 2014, at Mount Vernon United Methodist Church, 107 West Main St. Danville, VA, 24541, with Reverend Barry Foster officiating. Interment will follow the service at Highland Burial Park. The family will receive friends at Townes Funeral Home on Saturday, March 8, 2014 from 6:00 to 7:30 PM. The family suggests that memorial donations be made to Mount Vernon United Methodist Church, 107 West Main Street, Danville, VA 24541.