R. Al Grogan

Ransome Alvin Grogan, 84, of Lake Montezuma died October 21 in New Horizons Hospice in Prescott Valley. He was born February 23, 1925 in Winterhaven, California. Al Grogan was a very well-liked man! He was normally quiet but people gravitated towards him. He married his childhood sweetheart whom he first met in the third grade on April 27, 1947. They never had children but had nieces, nephews and Ralph Nye children and grandchildren to love. Al finished High School in February 1943 and was immediately drafted into the Army. He was supposed to be with others as part of the D-Day but ended up a month afterwards because there were too many ships and men. He was with the 74th Field Artillery Battalion and also with Patton's Third Army. After being released from the Army he went to work for Union Hardware in Los Angeles working his way up in 1946 from a stock boy to Assistant Personnel Manager. When it disbanded he went with the son of one of the owners as Personnel Manager. An uncle who was in dray cleaning convinced him to take over a large plant he was leasing in 1961. Al later built his own plant that was named Crown Cleaners. He was in dry cleaning for 17 years. He always said the best job he ever had was when he went to work for Flagstaff's Lowell Observatory in 1979. He wasn't ready to retire after the dry cleaning plant was sold. In May of 1984 he had a heart attack and was told he shouldn't return to work. Al had many health issues but had great stamina. He enjoyed being outside, taking care of his acre of ground, working with fine wood making cabinets and putting up walnut paneling. He was a happy man until he fell on March 3, 2009 and broke his left hip. From then it was one thing after another but now he's at peace. He leaves his wife Norma Grogan. Services and burial will be in Westminster Park and Mortuary in Westminster, California. An online guestbook is available at www.westcottfuneralhome.com