O.R. (Dick) Griffith, 90, passed away on January 15th, 2015 in Dallas Texas.
Dick was born on the family farm in Colesville, NY, September 1st 1924 to Hugh and Elizabeth Griffith. The family later moved to Ilion NY in 1935.
Answering the nations call for soldiers in 1942, Dick joined the United States Army. In 1944, serving under the command of General George Patton, Dick participated in the "Battle of the Bulge" to include the Christmas relief effort at Bastogne, Luxemberg, and the Rhineland and Central Europe campaigns. After the liberation of the work camp at Buchenwald Germany, and the wars end, he returned to the US in June of 1945.
Private First Class Dick Griffith's service earned him the Purple Heart, the Combat Infantry Badge, the Bronze Star, the American Theater Campaign Medal, the Europe/Africa/Middle-East Campaign medal with three bronze stars, the Victory and Good Conduct medal for his service to our nation during WWII.
After returning from Europe, Dick went to school at Paul Smith College in upstate NY, married his hometown sweetheart Margaret Mullen and graduated from Michigan State University in Lansing Mich. where he received his Bachelor of Arts in Applied Sciences and Agriculture.
On completing college, Dick went on to become a successful executive for Western Auto, North Supply, worked for the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia and numerous other executive positions until he went into full retirement in 2000.
Dick was preceded in death by his life's love Margaret in February 2013 after 64 years of marriage. He is survived by his daughter Karen Lomas, sons Norman, and Paul Griffith. He has six grand sons, one grand daughter, and five great grandchildren. He was rewarded with a good life.
A church service will be held at 7:00 PM at St.Aidan's Episcopal Church, 143rd and Blackbob, on Thursday, January 22, with the family receiving friends at the church an hour prior to service time. Dick will be buried at Ft. Leavenworth beside his wife at 9:00 in the morning of Friday, Jan. 23.
Memorials are suggested to a local animal shelter of your choice.