Weyburn Woodrow Groff

Weyburn W. Groff, of Goshen, husband of Thelma Miller Groff, died peacefully at The Maples Nursing Care Facility in Goshen, early in the morning of Oct. 2, 2014 in the company of family. Weyburn, age 92, had been residing at Waterford Crossing since the passing of Thelma in 2010. He is survived by three daughters, Raechel White, Sarasota, Fla., Margaret Groff, Mussoorie, India, and Cheryl Groff and her husband Ron Hess, Kathmandu, Nepal; a son Ed Groff, Los Angeles, Cal.; three grandsons, Alex Hess, Seattle, Wash., Conrad Hess, Vancouver, BC, and Peter Reinhardt and his wife Erika, San Francisco, Cal.; a sister Dorothy Hallman, Kitchener, Ontario; a brother and sister-in-law Merle and Dorreen Groff, Kitchener, Ontario and sister-in-law Betty Groff, Sauble Beach, Ontario. His brother James Groff passed away in 2000. Born Oct. 15, 1921 and raised in New Hamburg, Ontario, he was the son of Simeon and Violet (Snyder) Groff. After graduating from Goshen College he married Thelma in 1946. They spent 20 years as Mennonite missionaries in India. In 1951, he was one of the founders of Union Biblical Seminary in Yeotmal, Maharashtra, where he served as faculty in Christian Education. Continuing his studies on furloughs to the U.S., he earned a Ph.D in Education from New York University in 1963. His dissertation, Satyagraha and Nonresistance: A Comparative Study of Ghandian and Mennonite Non-violence, was published in 2009 by the Institute of Mennonite Studies. Leaving India in 1964, Weyburn served as Pastor of Floridale Mennonite Church in Ontario. In 1965, he moved to Goshen and served at Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminaries in Elkhart as faculty in Christian Education and as registrar, retiring in 1986. In 1989, Thelma and Weyburn were sent by Mennonite Central Committee as pastoral counselors for MCC service workers throughout southeast Asia. An avid reader, Weyburn followed his insatiable curiosity down many paths. A book or magazine was always open and marked with commentary. Painting and gardening were favorite expressions of his love for beauty and nature. He maintained his friendships and interests in India throughout his life. His particular interest in the life and teachings of Gandhi, add moment to the coincidence of his passing on Gandhi's birthday. All are invited to a memorial service to be held at College Mennonite Church on Saturday, Oct. 11, 2014 at 2 p.m., followed by a reception. A memorial plaque will be placed in the Memorial Garden. Memorial contributions may be given to the College Mennonite Church Jubilee Fund.