Lionel Grooms Obituary

Lionel Grooms BURY ST. EDMUNDS, SUFFOLK, ENGLAND - Lionel Grooms, 85, M/Sgt., U.S. Air Force (retired), died Dec. 10, 2021, in Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk, England. He was born March 2, 1936, in Cross, S.C., and was the son of the late Alma (Bilton) and Roosevelt Grooms. He graduated from Cross High School in 1954 and retired from the Air Force after 30 years of service. He lived in various locations across the U.S. and Europe before establishing residence in Tostock, Suffolk. A patriot of the U.S., he lived for more than 50 years in England, a country he dearly loved. Lionel was a world traveler who never met a stranger. He always welcomed friends and family who visited England and provided a home away from home for many Air Force personnel, especially during holidays. He was beloved in his village where he rang bells in St. Andrew, the 13th-century village church. His greatest pleasure was working in the village-owned community garden, where he grew a variety of vegetables and plants, including sunflowers, squash, potatoes and pumpkins. A local award winner, some of his pumpkins grew to more than 100 pounds, and he generously gave them away to children in the village. Lionel is survived by his wife, Margaret Grooms, of Bury St. Edmunds; a son, Mark Grooms (Ros) of Ely, Cambridgeshire; two daughters, Sue Grooms of Wasilla, Alaska, and Annie Grooms of Cardiff, Wales; a brother, Jack Grooms (Betsy) of Fort Mill, S.C.; four grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by a brother, William Grooms, and sister, Juanita Grooms Hawkins. A Christian memorial service was held Dec. 30 in Bury St. Edmunds. Visit our guestbook at legacy.com/obituaries/charleston