James’ Obituary Griffith, James D. (Don), Age 87, beloved husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather, passed away Saturday, January 26, 2019. He was born July 19, 1931 to James Willie and Oleta Griffith in Sequin, Texas. He loved football all of his life and played in grade school, high school and in college at the University of Houston.
Graduating with a degree in Physical Education, he went on to get his Master degree in PE planning on teaching and coaching football. However, in the Army he developed a love for electronics and computers, and worked for Burroughs and Texas Instruments before starting his own company, Griffith Computer Consultants. Don was very intelligent, a member of Mensa, and had a wide range of interests in mathematics, astronomy, computer science and programming to name a few.
After moving to Florida in the early 1960’s, Don met and married Mona on February 17, 1966. They lived in Orlando, FL for 24 years and loved to vacation in southwest Florida so much they built a lovely retirement home in Englewood, FL where they lived for 25 years. Boating and fishing, bowling, gourmet club, playing bridge, playing tennis, and working with computers kept him busy.
All of us spent many vacations at the ‘Griffith Bed and Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner’ in Englewood enjoying fishing trips and picnics on the boat, trips to Don Pedro Island, the beach and visiting the many attractions in the area. In December, 2015 he and Mona moved to Wichita, KS to be closer to his daughter and grandchildren. His family felt very blessed to have him close these last years.
He is survived by his wife of 52 years, Mona, of the home; daughter, Mary (Darryl) Mays of Goddard; grandchildren, Ted (Melani) Strouse, Matthew Strouse, Sarah (Justin) Munkres, Michael (Carter Tholl) Mays and Jennifer Mays; great grandchildren, Alec and Thora Strouse and Jaxson Munkres, all of Wichita; brother, Charles (Pat) Griffith of Conroe, Texas; nieces, Phyllis Kessler (Rick Helbing) of Sarasota, FL, Myra Erhardt (Paul Winick) of Silver Spring, MD, and nephew Jerry (Babs) Kessler of Englewood, FL; several great and great-great nephews and nieces. He is preceded in death by his parents; sister, Marilyn D. Kitchen, “Cookie” (Alvin Kitchen) and first wife, Marie E. Mazanec. No services per his request, he wished to be cremated and scattered over the Gulf of Mexico.
A celebration of life memorial ice cream social will be held at the Reflection Ridge Retirement Community at a later date. Memorials can be sent to Food for the Poor, Inc., In Memory of James D Griffith, 6401 Lyons Road, PO Box 979004, Coconut Creek, FL 33097-9004.
If you found any mistakes, or you would like to add/remove to this obituary, please contact us by email: info@obituary.memorial. We never ask money for this.
