Father Of Cartoonist Matt Groening Dies

Filmmaker and ad man Homer P. Groening, immortalized in the cartoon character Homer Simpson, has died of cancer of the lymph system. He was 76.

Groening, who died Friday, was the father of cartoonist Matt Groening, creator of the TV show “The Simpsons.”

The elder Groening was himself a cartoonist, as well as an advertising pioneer, museum founder, filmmaker and war hero.

Groening flew a B-17 over Europe during World War II and participated in the D-Day invasion, winning a Distinguished Flying Cross.

After the war, he lived in Portland and joined the Botsford, Constantine and Gardner ad agency as a production assistant.

In addition to his wife, Homer Groening is survived by his daughters Patty of Portland; Lisa of Glendale, Calif., and Maggie of New York City; sons Mark of Salt Lake City and Matt of Los Angeles, and seven grandchildren.