WALTER M. GRIFFITH, SR., age 96, of Middletown, Ohio, member of the greatest generation, beloved son, husband, brother, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, great-great-grandfather and friend, passed away on Thursday, September 29, 2022 at Ohio’s Hospice of Butler & Warren Counties.
Born in Means, Kentucky, on July 5, 1926, Walter moved to Middletown when he was a young boy and grew up in the Maple Park neighborhood. A lifelong hard worker, 12-year-old Walter had to step up when his father Earl Griffith was killed in a car/train accident while driving home from work at “the mill”. These were hard times but good times, too. He attended Maple Park School and Monroe High School where he excelled at basketball, playing on championship teams for both schools. He enjoyed telling family that he wore jersey number 3 and he could hit nine out of 10 two-handed long shots. Walter often spoke about his childhood pets, including a one-legged barnyard chicken and a mean dog named Bob.
In 1940, with World War II underway, Walter left high school after his junior year to enlist in the US Navy, ultimately serving aboard LST 1138 in the South Pacific until the war ended. Returning from his service, he worked for Carter Back, owner of Carter Beverages. Carter was a strict but kind boss, and became a good friend and mentor to Walter. Later he moved on to Sealtest Dairy in Middletown until it closed. After a short time at General Motors he became grocery manager at McGee’s Market and finally worked at Dillman Foods until he retired. Unable to stay retired, he worked for Pest-Off Exterminators into his mid-80s.
Walter was well known throughout the Middletown area and loved by all who knew him. He was a lifetime sports fan and followed the Reds and the Bengals and enjoyed college basketball. His great joy was having family over for backyard pool parties in the summer months.
Walter was preceded in death by his loving wife of 59 years Faye (nee Lawson) Griffith, brother Orville Griffith, son Stephen E. Griffith and grandson Harley Griffith. He is survived by son Walter (Gayle) M. Griffith, Jr, and daughter Deborah (Lawrence) A. Gray, daughter-in-law Linda Griffith, and brothers Earl (Erma) Griffith, and John (Shirley) Griffith. Also surviving him are grandchildren Lori Griffith, Catherine (Christopher Kink) Griffith, Scott (Donna) Griffith, Brian (Renee) Griffith, Laura (Robert) Dennis, and Zachary (Madison) Gray; five great-grandchildren (Ayreonna, Alix, Ethan, Lucy, and Arlo); and three great-great-grandchildren (JaeOnna, Amaryonna, and Jaxton).
A Funeral Service will be Tuesday, October 4, 2022 at 11:00 am at Breitenbach Anderson Funeral Home, 517 South Sutphin Street, Middletown, OH 45044 with Chaplain Tom Myers officiating. Interment is at Woodside Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers the family requests donations to Ohio's Hospice of Butler & Warren Counties, the American Cancer Society, or a charity of your choice.
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