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MEMORIAL ARTICLE
Published Assembly Pending
WILLIAM AIKEN GRIFFIN * '46
No. 15720 * 7 Aug 1923 - 30 Mar 2000
Died in Charlotte, NC * Inurnment: Columbarium, Myers Park Presbyterian
Church, Charlotte, NC. |
WILLIAM AIKEN GRIFFIN was born in Charlotte, NC. He graduated
from Woodbury Forest School in Orange, VA and spent a year at
the University of North Carolina then a year at the Citadel before
gaining his appointment to West Point.
Bill had no problems with cadet life and was a
superb athlete, gaining his Major A in Track as a hurdler. Fellow
B-1 companymate, Ed Morgan, remembered: "Bill Griffin was
truly the archprototypical West Point Cadet. He was bright, athletic,
well built, handsome and personable. He was a good and loyal
friend to his fellow cadets and the women adored him. Obviously,
when a Hop Manager had to be selected for company B-1, Bill got
the nod." Another classmate from B-1, Frank Blazey, recalled:
"Remembering Bill from many years ago is an easy task and
a pleasure. He possessed exceptional capabilities and was the
type you would never forget. His many leadership, athletic, and
academic skills were remarkable from plebe year and throughout
his remarkable career." Bill graduated a second lieutenant
in the Army Air Corps with his pilot wings.
After graduation leave, Bill reported to Enid Field,
OK for transition training to multiple engine aircraft. He married
Elizabeth Dallas from Hartford, CT on 27 June 1947. His first
assignment was to the 35th Fighter Wing in Japan from 1949 to
1950. Bill then became Adjutant of the 314th Air Wing. The Griffins
then went to Pope AFB, NC where Bill remained until 1953. At
that time he decided to leave the Air Force to join the family
business.
Ira L. Griffin & Sons was a textile machinery
company and Bill remained there until 1973. At that time he became
a stockbroker with Wheat First Securities and then EF Hutton.
In 1980 Bill went into the commercial real estate business until
he retired in 1989.
After retirement, the Griffins moved to Litchfield,
NC. It was there that Elizabeth developed cancer and they moved
back to Charlotte in 1993 so she would be closer to friends and
family. She died in March of 1994.
In October 1994, Bill married Lavenia (Venie) Williams,
a widow, in Charlotte, NC. Bill died of a heart attack on 30
March 2000. Venie wrote that she was so grateful for their over
five and one half years together. Bill was a very loving husband
and friend and will be missed by many.
Survivors include his wife, Venie; daughters, Libby,
Alice, Brenda; two stepsons, Hank and Danny, brother, Ira, eight
grandchildren and four step grandchildren.
Bill Griffin was loved and respected by all who
knew him. Daughter, Libby, recalled: "I credit my career
choice, high school mathematics, to Dad. He loved the logic and
beauty of mathematics and passed it on to me. He was such a man
of contradictions, demanding, with such high expectations from
each of us, but could be fun loving and high spirited. I miss
his love and support so terribly. I have in my memory, all the
things he tried to teach me about life."
Daughter, Brenda, remembered: "Dad was a very
bright man. A perfectionist, a neat and tidy man who never forgot
his military training. He was interested in how and why everything
worked. He was both worldly and provincial. He was a loyal husband
and father. He was very kind and always had strong opinions on
politics and world events."
Daughter, Alice, remembered: "My dad was always
someone about whom I referred to with West Point in the same
breath. I was so proud of his life at West Point and his accomplishments.
It obviously affected the man he was. His West Point ring was
his wedding ring. I have to admit it was hard growing up. Everything
had to be neat and I always had to be on time. He was so strict,
but because he loved me. His best trait to me was his love for
his children. I didn't always see it, but now I know. And he
was so smart. He taught me well. He was an incredible man. I
loved him very much."
Classmate and friend, Shep Booth, recalled: "Bill
will be remembered in many ways but his physical image as a tall,
slender, handsome man of considerable athletic ability who remained
much the same over the years is a lasting image. When you renewed
your acquaintance with Bill after not having seen or talked with
him for years, he was always the same warm and friendly comrade
of bygone years. He invariably expressed sincere interest in
the good fortune of others and bore his own problems with grace
and dignity."
Roommate, Jerry Butler wrote: "I stayed in
contact with Bill throughout the years since we roomed together.
He was always a versatile, personable, sincere and conscientious
guy always willing to help a friend when the going got rough."
To the words of love and praise from family and
friends, the Class of 1946 proudly echoes the words that would
mean so much to our classmate: "Well Done, Bill; Be Thou
at Peace!"
'46 Memorial Article Project and his family
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