Charles “Bud” W. Grooms, 73

Charles “Bud” William Grooms, 73, of Centralia, Ill. died Aug. 10, 2009 at St. Elizabeth Hospital in Belleville, Ill.

He was born June 4, 1936, in Del Norte, Colo., the son of the late Arthur and Clara (Myers) Grooms. His early years were spent near Monte Vista, Colo. where he graduated from Sargent H.S. He continued his education and graduated from Northern Baptist Theological Seminary in Chicago, Ill. and was a pastor for 25 years serving at First Baptist Church, Hillsboro, First Baptist Church, Deadwood, S.D., First Baptist Church, Red Oak, and United Baptist Church, New Berlin, Ill.

He was also preceded in death by his sister, Connie Matthews.

He is survived by his wife Patricia Grooms, sisters, Peg Philips, Monte Vista, Colo., Helen Dean, Georgia, Elaine Entz, Monte Vista, Colo., and Victoria Grooms, Georgia, former wife Lois Grooms, Paducah, Ky. and their four children: Dennis (Deb) of Pleasant Hill, Doug (Deborah) of Shawnee, KS, Dwight (Paula) of Red Oak, and daughter Brenda (Paul) McEntire of Jacksonville, Fla., nine grandchildren and three great grandchildren.

A memorial service will be Aug. 22 at noon at the Centralia Free Methodist Church in Centralia, Ill.