Jay Marlin Groninger

Decorated World War II Veteran
 

Jay Marlin Groninger, 90, of Fairfield Township, died Thursday morning August 16, 2007 at the South Jersey Healthcare – Regional Medical Center.

He was predeceased by his wife Mary Isabel Groninger (nee Lingle) in 2003, they were married for sixty-two years. Born near Mexico, PA, he was the son of the late Bruce Groninger and the late Alma Groninger (nee Leyder). Raised in Lemoyne, PA he was a 1936 graduate of Lemoyne High School. After school, he worked in photography and design for Bowman’s Department Store in Harrisburg, PA. A resident of Fairfield Township and briefly of the Cumberland Manor Nursing Home in Hopewell Twp., Mr. Groninger previously lived in Glassboro for forty years.

A U. S. Army veteran of World War II, he served as a staff sergeant and quartermaster with the 30th Infantry. He was a member of the D-Day +3 landing force on Omaha Beach and his battalion fought battles through France and Belgium including: St. Lo, Mortain, Falaise Gap, Avranches and the Battle of the Bulge leading to the capture of Berlin. He was awarded the American Defense Service Medal, the European African Middle Eastern Service Medal with five bronze campaign stars and the Good Conduct Medal. He was honorably discharged at the end of the war.

Mr. Groninger returned to Harrisburg and began managing Penn Photo but soon joined the ranks of General Motors Corporation, A.C. Spark Plug Division. Before his retirement in 1974, he worked and lived in the New York, Pennsylvania and New Jersey.

Once retired, he established “Groninger Gloves” and often referred to himself as a “peddler” although others knew him simply as the “glove man.” Selling work gloves, socks and rain gear, he personally served customers in Delaware, New Jersey and Pennsylvania.

He is survived by one daughter, Marilyn G. Salmon and her husband Edward of Fairfield Twp., two sons, Marlin L. Groninger and his wife Rose of Monroeville and Glenn J. Groninger and his wife Valerie of Sicklerville, four grandchildren, James Salmon and his wife Vivian and Kristine S. Burnley and her husband Scott both of Fairfield Twp., and Jacob and Liesel Groninger both of Sicklerville, seven great grandchildren, Joshua DiDonato, Preston Burnley, Lurae Burnley, Leigha Burnley, James Salmon Jr., Amanda Isabel Salmon and Edward Hiatt Salmon. He was preceded in death by one brother Irvin Groninger.
A memorial service will be held Saturday morning August 25th at 10 o’clock at West Park United Methodist Church, 625 Shiloh Pike, Bridgeton with Rev. David L. Strope officiating.

Cremation took place privately and the interment was made at Mt. Pleasant Cemetery in Millville.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in Mr. Groninger’s memory to the West Park United Methodist
Church, 625 Shiloh Pike, Bridgeton NJ 08302.

Funeral arrangements are under the direction of the Freitag Funeral Home, 137 W. Commerce St., Bridgeton NJ.

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