Donald Martin Groff, Sgt. Major US Army (Ret.), 79, of New Providence, PA, died Thursday, September 11, 2014, at Quarryville Presbyterian Retirement Community, Quarryville, PA. Born in New Providence, he was the son of the late Benjamin F. and Mary A. (Young) Groff. Donald shared 50 years of marriage with his wife Carol J. (Bressler) Groff.

He served 22 years in the US Army, including two tours in Vietnam, achieving the rank of Sergeant Major. An Infantry and Mortars NCO, Donald's many awards and decorations included the Purple Heart, Bronze Star with Valor Device and Bronze Star with 1st Oak Leaf Cluster. Donald ended his Army career as one of the ROTC Cadre at the University of Alaska (Fairbanks) 8th ROTC Region.

Drawn to the great outdoors of our 49th State, Donald and his family planted their roots and he worked for the State of Alaska as the airport manager in Prudhoe Bay until his second retirement. After 30 years of residency, he was accepted into the Pioneers of Alaska fraternity. Donald was a member of the C. Russell Huber American Legion Post No. 57 in Fairbanks for 28 years and the Public Employees Local 71 State of Alaska.

Donald loved to fish, travel in his motor home, work on vehicles with his sons and spend time with his family, of whom he was very proud. Donald and Carol enjoyed dividing the calendar by living in Fairbanks, Alaska, Mesa, Arizona and New Providence, PA.

Donald's family includes his wife Carol, sons Matthew Groff, husband of the late Kari of Collegeville, PA, and Vince Groff of New Providence; daughter Cathy, wife of Mike Kulp of Bowmansville, PA; 10 grandchildren and 4 great grandchildren; and his siblings Ruth Brackbill, Earl Groff, Dora Reese, Mary Lou Lightfoot and Linda Kepner. He was preceded in death by stepson Steven Speece and siblings Victor Groff, Catherine Shiffler, Frank Groff and Esther Groff.

A Memorial Service will be held 11 AM Wednesday, September 17, 2014, at the Charles F. Snyder Funeral Home & Crematory, 441 N. George St., Millersville, PA 17661, with Pastor Mark J. Thiboldeaux officiating. Donald's family will greet friends from 10 to 11 AM on Wednesday. Interment with Military Honors will be in Indiantown Gap National Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to PA Wounded Warriors, Inc., 1117 Country Club Road, Camp Hill, PA 17011 (www.woundedwarriors.org), Hope Lodge of the American Cancer Society – Philadelphia (donate.cancer.org), or Fox Chase Cancer Center (www.fccc.edu/helpingfoxchase).