Obituary of Lin Colby Grover

Lin Colby Grover of Melbourne Beach passed away at the age of 91 with her family by her side on April 25, 2012. Lin was an inspiration to anyone who had the pleasure of knowing her. She is survived by her daughter Diane Grover, also of Melbourne Beach, as well as her three other children, Orrin Grover, Theresa Turner and Maggie Edelstein, her four grandchildren and five great grandchildren. Lin was a well-known and loved member of the Melbourne Beach community. Growing up in Tennessee as the daughter of Will and Ella Colby, Lin blossomed into a beautiful Southern belle with a twist: her elementary school administered the standard IQ test and she earned a perfect score. Working at the Nashville Bridge Company during WWII, helping develop the blueprints for military vessels, she was awarded the highest military security clearance possible and was commended for her brilliance, versatility and ingenuity. After the war, her Southern charm and intelligence captured the heart of dashing Army Air Corps Colonel Orrin Grover. They married in November 1946 and thus began a new chapter in her life. Her husband was promoted to Brigadier General and he was given command of Dhahran Air Base, Saudi Arabia. Her ability to deal with, adapt and overcome cultural conflicts in support of her husband was instrumental in creating positive relations between countries. While there, she fulfilled a lifelong dream of visiting the Acropolis and the Holy Land. Before leaving Saudi Arabia, she was feted by the king with a high tea in recognition of her intercultural sensitivity. Moving with her husband to Wyoming as Cheyenne Mountain was being planned, and then to Washington, D.C. where he served on the Joint Chiefs of Staff as Chairman of Middle East Affairs, she focused on supporting her husband's career and raising their four children while her husband was assuring the security of our nation. A supportive wife, she put her family before herself. Widowed at 48, she singlehandedly guided her children and assured that all four children were college educated. All of her children are successful: one a lawyer, one a college professor, on a high school teacher, one an office manager. In recent years, she was able to devote her time to her art and served her community through Triad, the international association to deal with issues and concerns of senior citizens, where she received multiple awards for her contributions. She served as Crime Watch captain and was recognized for her work. More importantly, Lin was also widely known for her deep devotion to her Catholic faith, her generous nature and her spirituality. Always active in her church, she was an inspiration to those who saw her. She rests with the Lord. A visitation is scheduled for Sunday, April 29th, from 5 to 7 p.m. at Beach Funeral Home - East Chapel in Indian Harbour Beach. A funeral mass will be held at Holy Name of Jesus Catholic Church on Monday, April 30th at 11 a.m. with a reception to follow. Interment will follow the reception at Florida Memorial Gardens at 1:30 p.m. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in Lin's name to a charity of your choice