Jeffrey Allan Groth, 43, husband of 15 years of Linda D. Groth, died Sunday, Jan. 6, 2008, at his home.

Born in Topeka, Kan., he was a son of Judy Laidler Groth and the late Allan Groth.

Groth was a former law enforcement officer in Sumter County for 11 years, serving both the city and county departments. He was owner of Groth Computer Management and former manager of Sumter Net.

Surviving are his wife of Raleigh; his mother of Sumter; a brother, Kevin Groth and wife, Maria, of Fort Worth, Texas; a sister, Laura Mossell and her husband, Mark, of Sumter; three stepchildren, Glenda Windham and Brian Windham, both of Raleigh, and Yolanda Smith of Sumter; two grandchildren, Elijah Smith and Ethan Smith; nephews, Bradley Groth, Justin Groth, Matthew Mossell and Jacob Mossell; and a niece, Mary Katheryn Mossell.

Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. Wednesday in the chapel of Elmore Hill McCreight Funeral Home with the Rev. Kevin Groth officiating. Burial will be in Evergreen Memorial Park.

Pallbearers will be Brian Windham, Justin Groth, Bradley Groth, Brian Richards, John Sieber, Norman Hodge, Chuck Banghart and Rusty Brannon.

The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. today at Elmore Hill McCreight Funeral Home and other times at the home of his sister, Laura Mossell, 520 Huron Drive, Sumter.

It has been 9 years since we were last graced with your presence. We all have missed you dearly and losing you changed our lives forever. I think of you often Jeff and have dreamed of your face. You were a loving husband, step-dad and Papa. You meant more to me than I think you or I realized. We miss you and I know that you are here with us. I believe that you are my babies Guardian Angel. Today represents your passing but it also represents the celebration of your life and the time, although too short, that we had with you. We love you Jeff and miss you everday.

                                                Pumpkin & Family