Harry Junior Grogg, 94, passed peacefully June 2, 2026, at his home in Rawley Springs, Virginia, surrounded by the place he loved and had called home for 70 years.
He was born May 15, 1932, in Stoney Run, the youngest son of the late William Harry Grogg and Caddie Waggy Grogg. He was the last surviving of their five sons.
Mr. Grogg was a true West Virginian at heart and often said he felt most at peace when he reached the top of Shenandoah Mountain.
He was a devoted family man, a proud veteran who served in the 101st Airborne and as a military policeman in the Army, and a man whose quiet strength carried his family through the years. After returning home from service, he married the love of his life, Lucille Maxine Joseph, on Feb. 19, 1955. Together, they built a life centered on family, hard work, and love, raising their six children until her passing on Nov. 6, 1997. Even after her death, he would often say he would never find another to marry, a reflection of the deep love he carried for her all his life.
He found joy in the simple, honest things of life. He loved animals and cared for ponies, cows, chickens, rabbits, and many coon dogs during the years. He kept big gardens that helped feed his wife and the children, and he never shied away from hard work.
Throughout his life, he worked many jobs, including tire work for Doug Pearce, timber cutting and hauling, and construction for OL Mathias and VW Nesselrodt.
In his later years, one of his greatest passions was building and restoring antique tractors. He loved bringing old things back to life and often said he had never seen a tractor he couldn’t make livable again. To his family, he was one of the hardest workers they had ever known, and the lessons he gave his children stayed with them: “Show up for work, do what you’re told, and do it right.”
Along with restoring tractors, enjoying breakfast at L&S Diner, and keeping up with everyone’s business in his own way, he especially loved spending time in West Virginia with his dear friend, Dover Harper, on his farmland. Many Saturdays were spent there together, checking on the farm, tending the cows, making hay, and working on tractors. Those days were some of the moments he cherished most.
He leaves behind a loving family who will miss him dearly, his children, Theodore Keith Grogg (Lori Grogg), Dawn Thomason (Daren Thomason), Kevin Grogg (Cathy Grogg), Denise Custer (Jimmy Custer), Dana Hiles (Jimmy Hiles), and Dorenda Brooks (Tommy Brooks); 17 grandchildren; 33 great-grandchildren; and a great-great-grandchild.
The family would like to offer their deepest and most heartfelt gratitude to his daughter, Dana Hiles, and son-in-law, Jimmy Hiles, with whom he made his home, for the love, devotion, and tender care they gave him during the past 30 years. The selfless commitment, compassion, and constant presence were a true blessing in his life and a gift to their entire family. Dana Hiles not only cared faithfully for her dad but also had a special way of bringing the family together to love and support him. His memory will live on in the stories, values, and love he shared with all who knew him.
He was also preceded in death by four brothers Curtis, Russell, Otis, and Everette; a grandson, Matthew Burkett, and two nephews, Ricky Grogg and Mike Grogg.
A funeral service was held Monday at McMullen Funeral Home chapel in Harrisonburg, Virginia. Burial followed in the Rawley Springs Cemetery.
Online condolences may be made to the family at www.mcmullenfh.com.
