Doris Lee Henderson Grove, 95, of Groveland Farm in Forest, VA, passed away January 6, 2023, at home. Doris was born in Brookneal, VA, on March 27, 1927, the daughter of the late Walter Carter Henderson and Elsie Mae Clark Henderson; she was the second of four children.
With her loving husband of 66 years, Charles Whitney Grove, who preceded her in death, Doris helped to establish Groveland Farm in 1959 with 40 registered Angus cattle which grew to a herd of over 300 head. Enjoying the fruits of their hard work, together they traveled across the country and around the world relishing new experiences and making new friends along the way.
Doris attended Madison College (now JMU) in Harrisonburg, VA, and taught 3rd and 4th grades at New London Academy and Leesville Road Elementary School. After retiring from teaching, she worked at Arthur’s Flower Cart honing her floral arrangement skills while compassionately helping others to both celebrate and mourn.
Doris was an incredible cook loving time in the kitchen creating delicious meals for her family and friends. Never one to follow a recipe, or write down the ingredients she used, she loved hosting dinner parties and making the best yeast rolls, soups, casseroles and desserts. No one ever left Groveland Farm hungry if she had anything to do with it. For decades, Doris was a generous and active member of Forest United Methodist Church and both the Forest and Lynchburg Women’s Clubs. She also helped to organize a women’s investment club through which she became quite the savvy investor. A strong leader in both her church and community, Doris was always ready to lend a helping hand.
Doris is survived by a daughter, Glenna Housman and her husband, John of Forest, and their two children, Whitney Blandford and her husband, Jason of Warrenton, and Carrie Housman of Chantilly; and a son, Charles “Chuck” Whitney Grove, Jr., and his wife Ruth, of Forest, and their two children, Jake Grove and his wife Katie of Forest, and Rachel Dalton and her husband Douglas of Lynchburg. She is also survived by six great-grandchildren: Emma Whitney Grove, Caroline Grace Grove, William Beckett Blandford, Easton Grove Blandford, Townes Louis Blandford and Aubrey Douglas Dalton IV. Doris was preceded in death by her brother Walter Carter “WC” Henderson and two sisters, Mary Hubbard and Marjorie Bailey.
Doris left an indelible impression on all who knew and loved her. She will be greatly missed by everyone as she is reunited in death with the love of her life.
The family will receive friends Wednesday, January 11, 2023, at the Tharp Funeral Home Chapel in Lynchburg beginning at 12:00 pm, with a celebration of Doris’ life to be held at 1:00 pm. Interment will follow in Virginia Memorial Park.
Memorial contributions may be made to Forest Volunteer Fire Dept. and Rescue Squad, 1645 Thomas Jefferson Rd., Forest, VA 24551, or the Angus Foundation, 3201 Frederick Ave. St., Joseph, Missouri 64506.
The family would like to thank Centra Hospice and Brittany Oliver Locke for their support. The family would also like to thank her dedicated caregivers: Maria Blazejewicz, Monika Blazejewicz, Vicky Booth, Ada Johnson, Patricia Jones, Mamie Nowlin, Georgetta Plants, and Margaret Templeton.
Click here to view the tribute video for Mrs. Doris Henderson Grove.
Tharp Funeral Home
220 Breezewood Drive
Lynchburg, Virginia 24502