With profound sadness, we mark the untimely passing of the Starlite Drive In's owner and operator, Mr. Bob (Robert) Groves. Bob passed away suddenly due to heart failure in the early hours of the morning, on Friday, March 9th 2007 after being hospitalized the previous day.

"How many do you have in the trunk?"
Anyone who's visited the Starlite Drive In over the past 20 years was likely to hear those words if Bob was in the box office, as Bob delivered this cheerful greeting with a big smile and chuckle. Truth be told, Bob really didn't care how many people you were hiding - he was always just glad you came.

It's not a stretch to say that the drive in was Bob's life. From 1986 until the time of his death, Bob dedicated all of his energy to keep the drive in running - such was his love of the venue and the thousands of customers who would come to the drive in each year to watch a movie "under the stars." We'll miss you Bob.

A memorial service was held at Hudson Funeral Home in Durham, on Wednesday March 14th. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Amran Temple, 11101 Creedmoor Road, Raleigh, NC for the Shriners Hospital for Children.

Robert Franklin Groves
January 27, 1952 - March 09, 2007 Durham, NC

Mr. Groves was born on January 27, 1952 in Cumberland, Md. After graduating from the Allegany High School in Cumberland he served in the U. S. Army. He owned and operated the Starlite Drive In Theatre with a passion all his own. He was known to the community as “Bob” and greeted everyone with a smile. Bob thoroughly enjoyed the atmosphere surrounding him that he created. Bob loved the Drive In and his “crew”. He was a member of Durham Lodge 352, Durham York Rite Bodies, Scottish Rite Valley of Raleigh and a member of the Ceremonial Cast, Amran Shrine Temple in Raleigh.

 In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the Amran Temple, 11101 Creedmoor Road, Raleigh, NC for the Shriners Hospital for Children.