Matthew J. Grope

Matthew J. Grope Jr.

BOARDMAN - Services will be held Friday at noon at the Davis-Becker Funeral Home in Boardman for Matthew J. Grope Jr.
He passed away Tuesday morning at St. Elizabeth Boardman Health Center.
Friends may call Friday from 10 to 11:45 a.m.
Mr. Grope was born Jan. 9, 1925, in Youngstown, a son of Matthew J. and Elsie Bossertt Grope Sr.
He was a foreman in the shipping department for Commercial Shearing & Stamping Company.
A veteran of World War II, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1943 at the age of 18. He trained as a corpsman, and was attached to Co. B, 5th Pioneer Battalion, 27th Marines, 5th Marine Division.
Matt was 20 when his unit landed on Iwo Jima on Feb. 19, 1945, where he served first on the beach, then moved inland with the front lines. The battle lasted from Feb. 19 to March 26. His unit left the island in April.
His wife, the former Marilyn G. Carroll, whom the married Aug. 7, 1943, died Nov. 14, 1995.
Surviving him is a daughter, Paula (Dr. Donald) Allen of Boardman; two sons, Gary (Colleen) Grope of Boardman and Scott Grope (Jackie Fullerman) of Austintown; a brother, Rev. James Grope of Canfield; and six grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.
Preceding him in death besides his wife and parents are three brothers, John, Charles and Raymond Grope; and a sister, Dorothy Bissenden.
The family requests that material tributes take the form of contributions to Hospice of the Valley, 5190 Market St., Boardman, OH 44512.
Immediately following the funeral, friends are invited to the luncheon at the Becker Family Center, 8560 Market St. in Boardman.
Please visit www.beckerobits.com to send condolences.

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