Obituary

Ned was born in Highland Park, MI on Friday, September 13, 1935 to Florence and Sidney Grover. Some people consider Friday, the thirteenth, as unlucky, but he said his Mother always told him it was the luckiest day of her life.
Ned graduated from Cooley High School in Detroit, MI. He was a proud Cooley Cardinal, but he never wanted to attend any of his high school reunions because he always said “The first liar doesn’t stand a chance!”
Ned attended Wayne State University as an undergrad. During that time, his Dad purchased a car for him so he wouldn’t have to rely on an unpredictable bus system. His Dad was employed at Michigan Bell, (now ATT) and he was able to purchase an old Michigan Bell car. They were dark- olive Army -drab; not something that would please a young college student. So he and his Dad took the car to “Earl Scheib….Let us paint your car like new again…Only $19.95”. Ned never did mention what color they chose to paint it. While at Wayne, Ned worked at J.L. Hudson’s selling luggage.
In 1958 Ned graduated from Illinois College of Optometry in Chicago, IL with degrees of Bachelor of Science in Optometry and Doctor of Optometry. While in Chicago, Ned worked two jobs: one as a night clerk in a small residential hotel, and one selling ladies shoes at Marshall Fields. When his wife, Donna, would later tease him about all the young ladies he must have surely met, he said no, he mostly sold “orthopedic shoes to little old ladies!”
After graduation from IL College of Optometry, Ned joined the Air Force. He spent three years stationed as an Optometry Officer in the hospital at Randolph Air Force Base in San Antonio, TX. While there, Ned met Dr. Richard Wilson, and they became best friends.
After discharge, both men returned to MI: Dr. Wilson to Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit to pursue a residency in Orthopedic Surgery, and Ned to an Optometric partnership with Dr. Larry Beecher. Ned’s future wife, Donna, was the Head Nurse on the Neurosurgery/Orthopedic Unit at Henry Ford Hospital. Dick Wilson began hinting that he had a friend, “a gay young bachelor about town”, that he would like her to meet. Donna’s first reaction was “I don’t want to meet a playboy!” But meet they did, and eight months later they married on May 25th, 1963.
In 1964, Ned and Donna welcomed twin sons to their family, Mark and Michael. He was a proud Dad! When they began to swim with the swim team at the local YMCA, he adjusted his office schedule to enable him to attend their meets. Their swimming continued through high school and college with a proud Dad cheering them on, or on occasions, consoling them after a defeat. He was there for them whenever his office hours permitted; he was their biggest fan! He was there to share in their joy when they married their college sweethearts, Mark to Victoria Thimm, and Michael to Lori Latowski. The birth of his grandchildren, Katherine Grover and Matthew Grover, made him feel so blessed.
Ned’s professional life flourished. He and Dr. Beecher owned their own contact lens laboratory, Custom Contact Lens Laboratory. Over the years, Ned led the industry in developing new technology by acting as consultant to other contact lens manufacturers, and participating in FDA studies resulting in approval of new contact lens products.
For three years, Ned served on an advisory board with the responsibility of selecting and instituting a Laser Center which would serve over three hundred practicing optometrists in the state of Michigan. Another of Ned’s unique accomplishments was the development and writing of the first computerized record-keeping program for optometric practices. After forty-two years in practice serving two to three generations of the same family, Ned retired in December, 2000.
Ned now had time to pursue his hobbies, one of which was golf. On three different occasions, he and Donna would attend the United States Golf Academy in Indiana with friends or family. Four to five days of golf instructions in the morning was followed by an afternoon on the course. Funny thing, it didn’t improve the game much, but it was fun! He did make many new friends playing in a large group of guys in Pebble Creek, in Goodyear, AZ.
Ned enjoyed reading, too, mostly mystery novels. He loved music of all genres. Another hobby was photography. For many years, he had a darkroom in the basement of his home where he would develop black and white prints. He loved surprising other people, and enjoyed a good prank, even if it was pulled on him.
Ned became a barber! With two growing boys, he bought clippers, scissors, and whatever else he thought necessary to give Mark and Mike haircuts. He became skilled enough over the years, that Mark and Mike would come home on breaks from college hoping Dad would give them a haircut.
The Grover Family motto was “Nobody’s Perfect”. It was never used as an excuse, but as a reminder that we all make mistakes, so forgive or forget, and move on. Unique to our family too, was the “Grover Leave”. Why on earth would you leave two peanuts in the bottom of the jar? Or what was just clinging to the side of the peanut butter jar? You might consider the “Grover Grab”, too! There was a time when restaurants would have a candy dish full of mints or other candy. Most people would take one or perhaps, two. No, the Grover clan took a fistful!
Ned was very faithful to his God and his church. As a family, the Grover’s attended Grace Lutheran Church in Redford Township, MI for almost forty years. Ned served as Elder, Usher and Trustee. However, when he moved to Pebble Creek and began attending Pebble Creek Community Church, he ushered, but beyond that he said “Been there, done that”. In his last few years, he might be sitting in his recliner with his eyes closed. Donna would ask ”Are you sleeping?” His reply would be either “No, I’m resting my eyes”, or “No, I’m praying.”
There are a few sayings that Ned used that Donna called “Ned’ism’s. If he was ready to leave a restaurant after dinner, he might say “Let’s blow this popcorn stand.” If he had had enough of a party, he might say “One Proud Mary and I’m out of here!”, or if you asked him how he was, his answer might be ”Combat Ready”. If someone were about to introduce him to a stranger, depending on the circumstances, he might offer his hand and say, “The names Jim, Jim Nasium”.
Whatever and however you knew of Ned, he was a friend to everyone. He was loyal, fun-loving, kind, sincere, intelligent and honest. He would lend a hand if needed and he was charitable.
Ned was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Disease in 2023. He was quite capable of achieving and maintaining his own personal activities of daily living. He knew his wife, Donna, his family, and his myriad of friends. He enjoyed dining out with family or friends, taking in an occasional movie, watching TV, attending church services and listening while Donna sang in the church choir. However, he could not recall how to use his CPAP machine for sleep apnea. Every night when Donna would settle him into bed with his machine, he would thank her for helping him,
tell her he love her and kiss her goodnight. As she was on her way out the door, he might say, ”Now you go straight to bed, no reading those comic books!”.
On March 28, 2024, Ned suffered a stroke which left him unable to speak or swallow. When it became apparent to his family that he would be unable to survive with any quality of life, they placed him in hospice care. He passed peacefully on Sunday, April 14th, 2024 with his family at his bedside. He is resting in the loving arms of a gracious God while listening to the heavenly choir.
A Celebration of Life is planned for Tuesday, May 14th, 2024, from 1 pm until 3 pm in the Chianti Room of the Tuscany Falls Clubhouse in Pebble Creek, Goodyear, AZ. A second Celebration of Life is to take place in Michigan to accommodate family and friends residing in MI and the eastern states. A date is yet to be determined. Should you care to make a memorial in Ned’s name, his family would like to suggest: The Dallas Hearing Foundation, 7777 Forest Lane CA94 PMB 143, Dallas, Texas 75230; Pebble Creek Community Church, Robson Reserve, 15833 W. Clubhouse Drive, Apt. 224, Goodyear, AZ 85395; Samaritan’s Purse, ATTN Donor Ministries, PO Box 3000, Boone, North Carolina 28607 or a charity of your choice.
The family wishes to thank you for your prayers for Ned during his illness, for the love and support you extended to him over his life time. His was a life well-lived.