Rita Groh

Mrs. Rita MacIntosh Groh, 92, of Seminole, Florida, passed away on Wednesday, January 4, 2017 at the Tierra Pines Center in Largo, Florida.

Rita, daughter of the late William Rae MacIntosh and Minnie Elizabeth Bristol, was born in Hanover, New Jersey on April 4, 1924.  While growing up she enjoyed ice skating, swimming and horseback riding.  She was a graduate of Madison High School, Madison, New Jersey. After graduation Rita worked as a bookkeeper for the Curtiss-Wright Corporation.  Rita married her high school sweetheart, Edward H. Groh, on March 1, 1944.  They enjoyed 64 years together, raising their children and loving the life they built together.

Later in her life, Rita could be found feeding her pet, named Egrets; working on one of the many hand sewn quilts that decorated her home, or collecting antiques.  She and Ed operated their own antique shop, named ‘Teachers Pet Antiques’ in Smithville, New Jersey, before re-locating to Florida.

Rita was predeceased by her sister, Dorothy “Dot” MacIntosh Earls in 1980 and by her husband, Edward H. Groh on March 1, 2008.  She is survived by her loving family, son, Edward C. Groh of Seminole, Florida, daughter, Beth S. Pier and her husband, Steven J. Pier of Murrells Inlet, South Carolina, 2 grandchildren, Amanda S. Murphy and her husband, Dr. Matthew B. Murphy, of Napa, California, Eric S. Pier, his wife Michelle S. Pier, and great grandson, Sebastian E. Pier, of Portland, Oregon.

A graveside service will be held on January 20, 2017, 9:15 am, at Bay Pines National Cemetery, St. Petersburg, Florida.  The family requests donations in lieu of flowers to the Alzheimers Association, 225 N. Michigan Avenue, Fl 17, Chicago, IL 60601 or www.alz.org.