09/01/2026
William Edward McGroom
September 8, 1941 - August 28, 2026
It was a Friday when the yard sale listings weren’t looking too promising. Our beloved “Gunka,” William “Bill” Edward McGroom — a man devoted to cruising garage and estate sales every weekend — decided it was his time to “check out,” his favorite joke about death. After several months of health complications, Bill passed away on August 28, 2026.
Bill’s story began on September 8, 1941, in Memphis, Tennessee. Born to hard‑working parents, Fannie Strevel and Leslie McGroom Sr., he grew up with a deep love for cars, no doubt influenced by the used car lot his father ran near Beale Street. From that upbringing came two traits everyone knew well: Bill loved to talk, and he could drive a hard bargain.
He proudly told anyone who would listen that he attended Humes High School — the same school Elvis went to. Conversations about antique radios, model trains, die‑cast cars, matchbook covers, or stamp collections could keep him talking for hours. If something could be collected in volume, Bill was happy to collect it.
He spent many joyful years in the Memphis Town Talkers CB Club, which later became a Saturday night bowling league, and enjoyed hobbies with the Memphis Bop Club, the Memphis Antique Radio Club, and the train‑loving community he met at yearly shows.
Bill is survived by his wife, Linda, and his stepchildren Mary Clapp (Mike), Laura Crook (Chris), Mike Steward (Missy), and James Steward. He is preceded in death by his second wife, Louise McGroom; his stepchildren Brian Ellis, Betsy Ward, and Katie Stokes (Simon); his first wife, Kathy Acklin McGroom; and his daughter, Libby McGroom Pelham (Randy). Bill was fortunate to share his love of trains with many grandchildren: Zachary, Elyssa, Schuyler, Will, Conner, Dalton, Walker, Mikey, Rebekah, Isaiah, Wyatt, Sarah, Finley, Emory, Caroline, and Peter.
As a young man, Bill was active in DeMolay and later joined Frayser Masonic Lodge #746 in 1979, eventually serving as Worshipful Master. He became a member of Millington Lodge #671 after the merger in 2005 and affiliated with Unity Lodge #95 in 2022.
In his later years, Bill discovered he truly enjoyed long road trips to national parks with his family, rewatching his favorite late‑night television series, petting every dog he met, reading to grandchildren by phone during COVID, serving alongside Linda in the church pantry, and maximizing his profits on eBay.
We — and three of the estate sale companies — will be missing our beloved Bill always.
