Douglas R. Groom

Douglas “Dell” R. Groom, 87, of 1222 S. 3rd Street, Dayton, WA., passed away June 19, 2026, at home following an extended illness.

The memorial service will be Friday, June 26, at 11:00 am at Harvest Christian Church, 653 Wagon Road, Dayton, with the Rev. Dave Shepard officiating. Private inurnment will be at the family plot at the Dayton City Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to the Walla Walla Community Hospice, DHS Alumni Association, and United Brethren Church.

Dell was born on September 9, 1938, in Dayton to Earl Groom Sr., and Thelma Witt Groom. In 1957 he graduated from the Dayton High School and entered the Army serving a total of two years with one year in Korea.

After returning from the Army, Dell worked briefly at Steve’s Grocery and then thirty-two years for the Dayton Post Office as a mail carrier until his retirement in 1992.

On June 10, 1962, he married the love of his life Joan K. Elder. He enjoyed his family, siblings and home. Dell was an antique enthusiast and enjoyed refinishing antique pieces. Hobbies included gardening, playing cards, and going on trips with his siblings and other family members. In 2003, Dell lost Joan to cancer. In 2008, Dell married Agnes “Aggie” Von Cadow in Lewiston ID. Dell and Aggie remained in Dayton and enjoyed various cruises and many trips around the country. Aggie passed in 2019 after a short illness, and they considered their 11 years of marriage a bonus after they both had lost spouses and lived alone.

Survivors include three sons; Shane Groom and spouse Kim of Spokane, WA., Marty Groom and spouse Stephanie of Prosser, WA., Ty Groom and spouse Kurd of Frederick, MD., and daughter Jodi Groom of Peoria, AZ., brothers Phil and Jack Groom of Dayton; sisters Mona Waliser and Bitsy Livingston of Dayton; seven grandchildren and six great grandchildren.

Dell was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Earl “Bud” Groom Jr. and an infant brother; three sisters, Bess Bly, Earlene Boggs, Hubba Tate.