The Groves made Greencroft aware of their intentions in the early 2000s. The estate is currently being processed by Everence Financial Services and the attorney representing the Groves, with final distribution to be completed later this year. “Elbert and Marion were kind, gracious people.” – Mark King, Greencroft CEO & President Although approximately $3.5 million of the amount is undesignated, the Groves pledged $1.1 million in 2002 as part of the capital campaign at Greencroft Goshen at that time which funded endowments for the Homestead (adult day care), the Community Center and the Good Samaritan Fund (resident assistance). In addition, $600,000 of the estate was designated in 2012 as part of the most recent capital campaign at Greencroft Goshen for the newly opened Healthcare facility and remodeling. Both the Greencroft Goshen board and the Greencroft Communities Foundation board are in discussions about how best to use the remaining undesignated funds. No decisions are expected until later in 2016 (see box on page 4). “Elbert and Marion were kind, gracious people,” says Greencroft CEO and President Mark King. “They experienced the wonder of living free of worries in Greencroft Goshen. They desired to make sure we would be able to offer the same level of services to their neighbors, if they needed it."

Elbert passed away on Oct. 6, 2015, at the age of 98 at Greencroft Goshen Healthcare where he had resided for several years due to health and memory issues. Elbert was born June 16, 1917 in Laurium, Mich., and married Marion in Evanston, Ill., in 1953. As a youngster, Elbert lived on South Main Street in Goshen. But he also attended schools in St. Petersburg, Fla., and in LaGrange County, Ind. He graduated from Elkhart (Ind.) High School in 1935. Elbert was Rector Scholar at DePauw University, Greencastle, Ind., from which he graduated in 1939. He was also a World War II veteran, reaching the rank of corporal. The last 26 years of Elbert’s working career were spent at Ford Motor Company, from which he retired in 1979. He and his wife moved to the family farm near Benton, Ind., following his retirement. They moved to Greencroft in 1996. Elbert was a frequent volunteer during his working career and following retirement. He was active at Greencroft Goshen, serving on the Senior Center Advisory Board for a number of years, as the Magnolia Court representative on the Greencroft Residents’ Council and on a variety of Greencroft committees. At the age of 88, Marion Groves passed away in the Greencroft Goshen Healthcare on October 10, 2010 after an extended illness. Marion was born March 2, 1922, in Hudson, Wis., and was a graduate of Hudson High School. She worked five years for the Jewell Paint Company in Chicago and was also a sales associate for department stores in Dearborn, Mich. She and Elbert Groves celebrated 57 years of marriage in May 2010, five months before she died. In addition to being a homemaker, Marion participated in 4-H baking competitions and received awards for her apple pies. Although she and Elbert had no children, she is survived by many special nieces and nephews. As a long-time member of First United Methodist Church in Goshen she was an active member of the church’s visitation team. “Elbert and Marion were very generous people who loved to help others,” says Jim Neff, Greencroft Communities Foundation Director. “They loved volunteering at their church and for Greencroft. They lived very frugally and saved as much as possible, which is why they were able to accumulate so many assets. I will truly miss visiting with the Groves. No matter if we were talking about Ford stock prices or the weather outside, Elbert always made people smile with his dry sense of humor and quick wit. My only regret is that I did not have a chance to bring him one last lemon meringue pie that he enjoyed so much.” According to extant records at Greencroft Foundation, the Groves gift is the largest ever to be received since the Foundation’s inception in the early 1970s.