Our community has lost a very compassionate, helpful person with the passing of Anne Grubbs.

The Bowling Green woman died Friday at the age of 63 at Hospice House of Southern Kentucky after bravely battling breast cancer for 11 years.

Her passing saddens not only her family but the many who knew her from her community work.

She touched many lives and helped advance many causes that helped change people’s lives for the better.

The Virginia native, who leaves behind a husband, Mike, taught school for 20 years and worked at Bowling Green-Warren County Community Education for 17 years before retiring in October 2012.

Grubbs was dedicated to the organizations in which she was involved or led. She was a member of the Kiwanis Club of Bowling Green and served as its president in 2012-13. She also was involved in Community Education, where she served as the enrichment and volunteer coordinator, and Kids on the Block.

She was the recipient of the Jefferson Award for Public Service in 2010, the Athena Leadership Award in 2010 and was named the Bowling Green Human Rights Commission’s Woman of the Year in 2003. She was a former board member of the Bowling Green Area Chamber of Commerce. She was a former member of the Bowling Green Women’s Club, the Houchens Center Board and was an ALIVE Center founding member.

Grubbs also dedicated a great deal of time to community events such as Stand for Children and Thunderfest.

While her legacy in all these organizations and groups will never be forgotten, her big heart, smile and willingness to give her time to others are what people will remember most about this wonderful lady.

Those who knew her well talk about how Grubbs’ smile could light up a room and how she was always there for anyone who needed her, especially children.

While Grubbs didn’t have any kids of her own, she had a lot of kids who looked up to her as a mother. She was known as someone who had a great love for children, and those children loved her just as much.

She was known as someone who was the first to arrive at an event and who worked tirelessly at each of those events for the benefit of others.

She demonstrated selflessness when, even though sick and couldn’t go to work, she would make phone calls from her home asking for donations. Those who worked with her said whatever they needed, she would make sure they got it.

Many say there never will be another one like her. She was truly one of a kind.

Our thoughts and prayers are with her family and friends during this difficult time.

 

Author Unknown (2014, August). Community loses exceptional citizen. Bowling Green Daily News. Retrieved from http://www.bgdailynews.com/opinion/our_opinion/community-loses-exceptional-citizen/article_fd38a8d6-d236-5491-baec-023b15213c52.html