George ‘Ed’ Grove

Rev. Dr. George Edward Grove (Ed), 82, passed away on Tuesday, June 4, 2024, at his home in Shepherdstown, with his wife, Marybeth, by his side. He was blessed by the presence of family, friends and spiritual colleagues during the final months of his life.

Ed was born in Hagerstown, on Monday, June 9, 1941, to Glenna Merica Grove and Dunham Biser Grove and grew up in Sir Johns Run, WV. He graduated from Berkeley Springs High School in 1960, and earned a bachelor’s degree from Shepherd College in Shepherdstown, (’64), a Master of Divinity from United Theological Seminary in Dayton, OH (’67), and a Doctor of Divinity from Lancaster (PA) Theological Seminary in (’84).

He was called to God’s service in his youth and ordained an Evangelical United Brethren (E.U.B) minister in 1967. When the E.U.B. and Methodist Church merged in 1968, he joined the Baltimore-Washington Conference of the United Methodist Church, serving congregations for more than 55 years in Virginia, West Virginia, and Maryland.

Ed’s lifelong passion for social justice and mission work; and his fierce love for the church took him to many national and international communities including McDowell County, WV.; Farmington, NM.; Nogales Sonora, Mexico; Puerto Rico; Ukraine, Senegal, and Thailand. He also spent three months with Union Theological Seminary in the Philippines.

Ed engaged in creative outdoor ministry with youth and adults including canoe camp at Camp Manidokan, C&O Canal bike hikes and Appalachian Trail hiking. In addition to ministry with his congregations, Ed served countless nonprofits and organizations, most notably Immanuel’s House, Habitat for Humanity, and the West Virginia Council of Churches. Ed also enjoyed the out-of-doors, a good joke, cooking, and working with his hands. He adored his family and friends and enjoyed any time they were together.

Ed is survived by: his wife, Marybeth (Beth) Schied Grove; one brother, Thomas Dunham Grove (Nancy), three daughters, Michele Townsend Grove (Andrew Townsend), Amy Beth Parks (Wayne), and Diane Christine McCool (Kerry); step-son, Mark Lucas Tebo; five grandchildren, Joshua Grove Parks (Brooke), Cara Beth Loudin (Christopher), Mary Madison Parks, Cailin Dale McCool and Helena Mariah Townsend-Grove; one niece, several cousins, and four great-grandchildren.

He is preceded in death by: his father, Dunham; his mother, Glenna; and two brothers, M. R. (Ronie) Grove, and Gregory Allan Grove.

Ed served as a dedicated servant of God until his death. Visitation took place from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. on Friday, June 14, and 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. before the service at 11 a.m. on Saturday, June 15 at Trinity United Methodist Church in Martinsburg, WV.

In lieu of flowers, gifts may be given in Ed’s memory to Mt. Wesley United Methodist Church in Shepherdstown, Immanuel’s House in Martinsburg, or Hospice of the Panhandle, WV.