Charles H. Groom III, 83, darkroom technician

Charles "Chuck" H. Groom III, 83, of Roxborough, a Navy veteran who was blinded in World War II, did not allow his affliction to get in the way of enjoying life. After losing his eyesight in combat in the South Pacific, he returned to the States, married, and fathered eight children, for whom he was the center of the world. Mr. Groom died May 7 after suffering seizures at the Veterans Affairs Nursing Home, where he had been for less than a year.

Born in Forsythe, a small town in southwestern Missouri, Mr. Groom had never been east of the Mississippi before he joined the Navy in 1942. He was blinded by a Japanese bomb a few months later while serving as a fireman second class on a submarine.

Mr. Groom was discharged in 1944, the same year he married Doris Craven. He met her while recuperating at the Philadelphia Naval Hospital. The couple raised eight children in Roxborough.

Mr. Groom's first job was as a photography darkroom aide at the University of Pennsylvania. In 1953, he was hired by the Frankford Arsenal to run its darkroom. He retired in 1989.

Mr. Groom was a familiar figure on the streets and aboard mass transit in Philadelphia with his guide dog. During his life he had 10 of them. Mr. Groom's greatest pastime was manning the Frankford Arsenal's elaborate Military Affiliate Radio System (MARS) equipment.

"My father was a tall, dark and handsome man with an animated face," his daughter Doris Maxein said. Mr. Groom broke into a smile whenever he threw the switch that tuned him in to the nation's radio waves. He reveled in the world of sound.

Mr. Groom often recorded messages from soldiers in Vietnam that were beamed to the Philadelphia area. He transcribed the messages into braille and then retransmitted them to ham radio operators who delivered them to friends and relatives of the servicemen and women.

He was a founder and past president of the Dearnley Park Civic Association, a judge advocate of the Blind Veterans Association, a Mason, and a member of the Lions Club.

The city Commission on Human Relations and various veterans organizations had honored him for helping those in need.

"He had a sixth sense," his daughter said. "Being blind did not stop my father from doing anything. He took us fishing on the Wissahickon Creek and rode bikes on the bay at Sea Isle City."

In addition to his daughter, Mr. Groom is survived by daughters Teresa Cullen, Nancy Bullard and Susan DeLaat; sons John, Charles H. III, Bobby Lee and Bud; 12 grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren. His wife died in 2007.

Friends may visit at 7 p.m. tonight at the Koller Funeral Home, 6835 Ridge Ave. The funeral and burial will be private.

Donations may be made to the Philadelphia VA Medical Center, 3900 Woodland Ave., Philadelphia 19104.