Dedicated local volunteer Ray Grose was founding member of Alma Optimists
Mapleton has lost a dedicated community volunteer with the passing of Ray Grose on July 4.
A fourth-generation Alma-area farmer, Grose, 86, and his wife, Ruth, founded Husky Farm equipment in the village in the mid-1950s.
A founding member of the Alma Optimist Club, Grose has also volunteered as a Scout leader and a board member with both the Drayton Festival Theatre and Alma United Church.
For over 30 years, Grose regularly volunteered to cook food for community fundraisers - right up until last November - and even built a large barbecue and frying pan for that purpose.
In 2010, Ray and Ruth were recognized as a couple for their years of volunteering with a citation from the County of Wellington and Guelph-Wellington Volunteer Centre.
Grose is survived by his wife and the couple’s children: Sandra and her husband Steven Eastep, Gordon Grose and his wife Christine and Walter Grose and wife Sharon, all of Alma.
A memorial service and life celebration will be held at the Alma Community Centre on July 19 at 1pm.
