Name: Jesse Barrett Grove, Jr.

                         Branch of Service: U.S. Navy

                         Unit:

                         Rank: Lieutenant (JG)

                         Dates of Service: 25/Apr/1944-
                         09/Jun/1946

                         Theater of Service: American

Jesse Barrett Grove, Jr., of Scottsville, Virginia, died peacefully at his home on Tuesday, October 16, 2012.

He was born in Elkton, Virginia, on August 25, 1918, to the late Jesse B. Grove Sr. and Mabel Forrer Grove.

He was predeceased by his wife of sixty-one years, Jacqueline Beal Grove; and his sister, Elsie Barrett Long.  He was a direct descendant of the pioneer, Christian Grove, who settled on the Hawksbill Creek in Page (then Shenandoah) County in 1756.  Mr. Grove grew up in Dayton, Virginia, received a B.S. degree in chemical engineering from Virginia Polytechnic Institute in 1939, and was employed by the Virginia State Highway Department in Richmond, Virginia, as a testing chemist.  In 1940, he married the former Jacqueline Beal of Scottsville.  In 1942, he joined the United States Patent Office as an Examiner in the chemical division.  In 1944, he received a commission as an officer in the United States Naval Reserve.  After training for sea duty, he was ordered to New York City to help staff the newly created Navy Office of Patents and Inventions.  After the war, he returned to the Patent Office in Washington, D.C., and received an LLB degree from George Washington University.  He was admitted to the Virginia Bar in 1950.  He was then appointed to the Department of Justice and served as an attorney in the Patent Section of the Civil Division under Warren Burger (later Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court).

Mr. Grove joined the patent law firm of Bacon and Thomas in 1956 and for the next 27 years specialized in the law of chemical, metallurgical and pharmaceutical patents.  He and his family resided during this time on Lawyer's Road in Vienna, Virginia.  Upon retirement in 1983, he moved to Scottsville, Virginia, where he became active in civic affairs serving the Town as Town Attorney, then as a member of the Planning Commission and finally on the Board of Zoning Appeals.  Mr. Grove was a member of the Scottsville Rescue Squad, the Scottsville Presbyterian Church, the Scottsville Lions Club, the Tri-County Riding Club, and Meals on Wheels.

Mr. Grove had a lifelong love of gardening, fishing on the James River, and cooking for himself and the family.  He remained active until the very end of his life, going to the Fitness Center three times a week, and holding twice-monthly cocktail parties for the "Lions Ladies."  He is survived by a son, Mayor Jesse B. Grove III and wife, Leanne, of Scottsville; a daughter, Sally Ann Chapin and husband, Roger, of Fernley, Nevada; granddaughter, Kate Grove Bucsi of San Francisco, California; grandsons, Jesse B. Grove IV of Walnut Creek, California, Theodore B. Grove of San Diego, California, Ivan W. Grove of Scottsville, Jake Chapin of Fernley, Nevada, and Nicolas Chapin of Shanghai, China; plus seven great-grandchildren.

A memorial service will be conducted 3 p.m. Sunday, October 21, 2012, at Thacker Brothers Scottsville Funeral Home by the Reverend Gordon Lindsey and Pastor Robert K. Spencer.  The family will receive friends from 4 until 5 p.m. Saturday, October 20, 2012, at the funeral home.

Jesse B. Grove died on Tuesday, October 16, 2012.  Reading his obituary, you learned all about his accomplishments as an upstanding citizen, a well-educated man, and a person of many talents.  However, that is not all.  Jesse was so much more than that, and an obituary can never fully tell us what a fantastic person he was.

His favorite place was in one of the comfortable chairs on the front patio of his house.  He would read the papers, tend to his plants, talk to the many friends there, and always returned your wave when you drove by.

He was one of the calmest people in town.  No drama from him.  He was always cool, calm, and collected.  He was unflappable, even-tempered, and consistently charming.  Jesse treated his wife, Jacqui, with love and accepted all the imaginative hats she wore and agreed with most anything she said.  Jacqui could tell you juicy, but no mean or vindictive stories about Scottsville and its residents, past and present.  Both were very kind to each other and everyone around them.

They were always very neighborly.  Trish Phipps wrote a poem for the book, "Riverbanks and Mountaintops."  In it, she tells about being new in town and wrote:  "They dropped by with cakes/ with plants and with cheer/ they alarmed us at first/they came quite so near."  She continues to tell about all the invitations to churches and clubs and for dinners and wine:  "...they invited us in/they offered their time."  It is dedicated to Jesse and Jacqui.  Our town veterinarian didn't hesitate to walk into their house from the practice down the street asking for a glass of vodka.  Not blinking an eye, they offered him one and never asked for an explanation.  He gave them one as he was leaving:  "It serves as an antidote to a dog who drank something poisonous."

We all remember their evening walk around town.  Someone called it "Grove-ing", and it was a comfort to see them:  Jacqui with her hands behind her back, and Jesse strolling a few steps ahead while Jacqui checked out the businesses and peered into windows to make sure all was OK.  She was genuinely interested in what was going on.  The short circuit took a long time since there were so many people who stopped them and wanted to talk for a spell.

Jesse served the Town of Scottsville for many years as an excellent Town attorney.  He always approached every legal issue that came up with a calm voice and gave well thought out and well researched advice.  He was pragmatic, reasonable, and sensible.  He easily gained our trust, and you knew he made informed, judicial and conscientious suggestions to the Town Council.

Years ago when stocks and mutual funds went haywire, he calmly told Jacqui:  "It's only on paper.  No money was really lost."

When she asked him:  "If I ever get a permanent, will you just take me out and shoot me?"  Jesse readily agreed.  There was always a twinkle in his eye, and he had a warm smile when he greeted you and a wonderful laugh if you told him something that struck you as funny.

He loved his home state of Virginia, and when Jacqui was expecting their first child, he convinced her to leave New York and go home and stay with her Scottsville family.  He wanted his child to be born a true Virginian.  When his son, Barry, was selecting a college, Jesse told him:  "You may go to any college you like...as long as it is the University of Virginia or Virginia Tech."  I believe his grandson, Jesse B. Grove, IV, was told the same thing, and got his degree at Tech.

Then there was the chicken who wandered into their yard one day.  Jesse gave it water and food, and the chicken knew a good man when she saw him and decided to stay for quite a while.  Jesse was a great cook, but it never occurred to him to put that particular chicken in a pot.  I am happy he concentrated on cooking other foods.  His black bottom pies were famous and greatly appreciated by anyone who was lucky to get a slice.

We all know, like his niece, Emily, said at Jesse's memorial service:  "He and Jacqui are having a great party in heaven!"  We are sure it is a roaring success!