Otto "Buck" Hogan Grooms

Otto "Buck" Hogan Grooms ,95, of the Lebanon Community passed away on Monday, September 8, 2025. He shared 51 years of marriage with his beloved wife, the late Beverly Newnham Grooms, who preceded him in death in 2006. He was the son of the late Mike Hogan Grooms and Zeulene Pearl Hilton. He was also predeceased by his sisters Jewel Grooms Salisbury and Etheline Grooms Cordray.

"Buck", as he was called by almost everyone, was born on June 21, 1930, at his home. He was a lifetime resident of Lebanon and lived his entire life on land in Berkeley County that has been in the family for many generations.

Daddy attended Lebanon Community School through grade five. He attended Cross School for one year before going on to school in Moncks Corner. He completed his education at Berkeley High School which only had 11 grades at that time.

In 1951, he was drafted in the United States Army, spent 10 days at Fort Jackson and then went to Fort Bragg , NC where he served on the Artillery Observation Battalion. Buck was an active member of the American Legion Post for younger years.

After his service in the United States Army, "Buck" returned to the family farm. Like his father and grandfather before him, Otto was a long-time farmer who planted tobacco, corn and soybeans. Farm life made for very long days with his livestock as well as chicken farm. He is often quoted as saying "The only vacation that I really took was when I served in the US Army!" His work ethic was constant throughout his lifetime even in his 90's and it was instilled upon each of his four children.

Buck became a member of Lebanon Methodist Church which is now the Methodist Church of Lebanon at an early age where he served in many capacities including Superintendent of the Church School. His wife , Beverly, was the choir director for many years and each of his children were very active in the life of the church . He was also a volunteer fireman with the Lebanon Fire Department and a member of the Berkeley County Farm Bureau.

"Buck" is survived by his four children: Terry Lynn Grooms and her lifetime partner Michael van der Els of Seville, FL, Glenda Grooms Russell and her husband James (Jim) Marion Russell III of Holly Hill, SC, Michael Otto Grooms and his wife Marsha Grooms of Lebanon, SC, and Robyn Grooms Jones and her husband, Kirk of Steinhatchie , FL. Otto "Buck" was also "Pa Buck " to his 12 grandchildren and 12 great grandchildren of whom he was very proud. "Buck" is also survived by a very special friend and caregiver, Bertha Green.

Buck loved farm life and reminiscing of the way things were in the "olden days". Our Daddy certainly filled the role of a farmer. He will be sadly missed by his family and the Lebanon Community.

A celebration of his life will be held at Methodist Church of Lebanon located at 1183 Lebanon Road at 3:00 pm on Saturday, September 13, 2025. Visitation will precede the service at 2:00 pm on Saturday at the church. Burial will take place following the service at Rudd Branch Cemetery which is located on Lebanon Road.

In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to Rudd Branch Cemetery, ATTN: Cindy Willard 2027 Cypress Campground Road Ridgeville, SC 29472 or Methodist Church of Lebanon, ATTN: Lori Singletary 619 Mill Creek Road Ridgeville, SC 29472. Expressions of sympathy may be viewed or submitted online at avingerfh.com/. Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Avinger Funeral Home, 2274 Eutaw Rd, Holly Hill, SC 29059, (803)46-3434.