Richard Lee Griffin

Richard was born in Stuart, Iowa on November 24, 1931. At the age of 17, he enlisted in the United States Air Force and was stationed in San Antonio, TX. After his military service, he returned to Iowa and used his GI benefits to attend college at Iowa State Teachers College where he graduated and met his wife, Carole Fromm. They married in 1956, and both worked as teachers in Melbourne, Iowa. They recently celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary.

Richard relocated with Carole to Lee’s Summit, Missouri in 1962 where he worked as Director of Safety and Supervisor at Western Electric. He retired in 1986. He loved working on his lawn, watching movies, cheering on the Kansas City Chiefs and reading books about the military, but most important to him, was being with his family.

He is survived by his wife, Carole Griffin; his son, Randall Griffin and his wife, Carla Griffin; daughters, Joan McSweyn and her husband Donald McSweyn, Jane McDill, and Gae Lennan; grandsons, Eric Griffin and his wife Laura Ventura, Kyle Lennan, Ryan Lennan, Gregory Griffin, James McSweyn, Sean McSweyn; and granddaughters, Tess McSweyn and Maddie Griffin; brother, James Griffin; and his adored Westie pup, Scooter.

He is preceded in death by his father, Bernard Griffin; his mother, Margaret Griffin; his brothers, Robert Griffin and Charlie Griffin; and his sisters, Mary Starr and Marlene Carpenter.

A graveside service will be at 9 AM on Friday, June 24 at Floral Hills East Memorial Cemetery located at 25203 E. US Highway 50 in Lee’s Summit, Missouri. A reception be from 10-11:30 AM at the John Knox Village Manhattan Room, 617 NW Jacob Drive, Lee’s Summit, MO 64081.

In lieu of flowers, the family welcomes donations to Village Hospice by John Knox Village.