Benjamin Reese Griffith
2008-05-14
Benjamin Reese Griffith of Boston, Va., passed away Wednesday, May 14, 2008 at U.V.A. Medical Center in Charlottesville at the age of 89. Born June 9, 1918 to Bennett M. Griffith and Olive Berkey Griffith of Jeannette, Pa.
He graduated from Carnegie Mellon University, previously Carnegie Tech, in 1941 with a B.A. degree in Architecture. He worked at the Newport News Shipbuilding Company for three years and entered the U.S. Navy as an Officer in 1943, serving until the end of WWII. In 1946, he began a 37-year career with the Mobil Oil Company in the Engineering and Design Department.
After retiring from Mobil, he became an active member of the Culpeper Mid-Day Chapter of the International Association of Lions Clubs, serving in the capacities of Secretary, Vice-President and President of the Mid-Day Chapter; later being selected as the Lions’ District Governor for Northern Virginia; also a member of the Culpeper United Methodist Church.
Surviving Ben are his wife Emma Jean Tyler Griffith of Boston, Va.; four children, Charlotte Lee Bruce and her husband Laurie of Traveler’s Rest, S.C., Wayne Bennett Griffith and his wife Gail of Princeton, W.Va., Lois Jean Mitchell and her husband Robert of Stratford, Conn., Keith Alan Griffith and his wife Marcia of Amherst, N.H.; nine grandchildren, Darren Bruce and Heather Bruce Heisterkamp, Mark, Scott and Brian Griffith, Reese and Charles Mitchell, Willis and Cara Griffith; and four great-grandchildren, Madison and Raegan Griffith and Ella and Alexander Heisterkamp. Preceding Ben in death were his parents, and a sister Lucille Griffith.
Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, May 18, 2008 at the Clore-English Funeral Home Chapel, 11190 James Monroe Highway, Culpeper, VA 22701 with Pastor Randy Orndorff conducting services. A time of visitation will be held Saturday from 4:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. at the funeral home. Private interment will be in Mountain Grove Cemetery in Black Creek, PA on Monday, May 19, 2008 at 3:00 p.m. with Rev. Drena Miller officiating.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Culpeper Mid-Day Lions Club, P.O. Box 777, Culpeper, VA 22701 and / or the Culpeper U.M.C. Missions Fund, 1233 Oaklawn Drive, Culpeper, VA 22701. Online condolences may be sent by visiting clore-english.com and signing the guest book.