Harold William Griffin, 102, of Greenwood, Arkansas died Thursday, April 26, 2018. He was born April 18, 1916 in Excelsior, Arkansas to David Floyd Griffin and Iva Hocott Griffin, he married the love of his life, Jewel Josephine Lennier. They were married just short of 57 years when she died in 1991. They had five children, Harold Eugene (Jim) Griffin, Catherine LaVerne (Griffin) Griffin, Billy Joe Griffin, Farrell Ray Griffin and Ronald David Griffin.
Harold grew up in Excelsior and Greenwood. When he was fourteen, his dad bought land on Mount Zion Road and the Griffin family still lives there. Harold raised cattle for decades on this property. When he was in his seventies, two of his children, LaVerne and Ron, built homes on the property and Harold gave up the cattle business to his son, Ron. He worked twenty years in the coal mines, then he worked for Baldor Electric until he retired. Harold and Jewel were active members of the Valley View Church of Christ, where he attended faithfully until his health prevented it this past year.
Harold is survived by three of his children, Laverne, Bill and his wife, Sharon and Ron and his wife, Betty all of Greenwood; two daughters-in-law, Mrs. Jim (Pegge) Griffin of Conway, AR and Mrs. Ray (Georganne) Griffin of Searcy, AR; one sister, Betty Cole of Fort Smith; one sister-in-law, Betty Lennier of Van Buren; twelve grandchildren, thirty-nine great grandchildren and nine great great grandchildren and numerous cousins, nieces, nephews and friends.
Harold is preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Jewel; one brother, Douglas Griffin; four sisters, Corene Rogers, Lorene Needham, Catherine Griffin and Dot Milburn; two sons, Jim and Ray; one son-in-law, Lynn Wiley Griffin, Jr.; three grandchildren, Lynn Wiley Griffin, III (Trey), Harold Eugene Griffin II (Hal) and Lori Elizabeth (Griffin) Newby and one infant great grandson, Jake Richard Griffin.
Funeral service will be 11 a.m., Monday, April 30 at Valley View Church of Christ in Greenwood followed by interment at Mount Zion Cemetery under the direction of McConnell Funeral Home of Greenwood. Viewing will be Sunday from 1 – 8 p.m. at the funeral home, where the family will visit with friends from 3 – 5 p.m.
Pallbearers will be Dennis, Joe, Steven, Chad, Todd and Kirk Griffin and John Ford. Honorary pallbearers will be Carl Coppeans, Charles Hankins, Troy Sweeten, Jim Emerson, Mark Atkinson, Kevin Vaught, Bill Yowell and David Powell
Memorial contributions can be made to the Southern Christian Home, 100 W. Harding St., Morrilton, AR 72110.
