James Franklin Griffin March 11, 1937 – February 17, 2019 Share this obituary Sign Guestbook| Send Sympathy Card Dr. James Franklin Griffin March 11, 1937 – February 17, 2019 A Good Man passed away Sunday, February 17, 2019. James Franklin Griffin, loving husband, great dad and terrific PaPa slipped into eternal rest to meet his family and friends who took the journey before him. James was born March 11, 1937 in rural Osborne County, Kansas to Everett and Grace Davis Griffin.
He was the middle of three children who include sister Carol Ann Anderson and brother Gail Griffin. James grew up on the family farm and graduated from Natoma, Kansas high school and left home to pursue a career in education. He graduated from Ft.
Hays State University in 1961 and later earned a Doctorate of Education Degree in 1970 from the University of Missouri-Columbia. He also served his country in the US army and was stationed in Germany in the late 1950’s. James married the former Twila Younker on March 13, 1964 in Dighton, Kansas.
They have a son Stephen born in 1967. In 1970 they moved to Weatherford, Oklahoma where they have made their home for 48 plus years. He taught at SWOSU for 28 years retiring in 1998.
While teaching he performed many roles for the Industrial Arts Department including a stint as Chair of the Department. During this time, he was an integral part of forming the SWOSU interscholastic meet and enjoyed his student clubs and helping them create and build floats for the annual homecoming parade. He was an active member in many professional Industrial Arts and Technology organizations.
In the 1970’s and early 1980’s he was a member of Rotary and he and Stephen would take part in putting out the US flags on main streets on holidays. When he retired, he was active in the Oklahoma Retired Educators Association and served as the Southwest District Director. For many summers he would return to Kansas and help with wheat harvest.
Up to the last four years he enjoyed playing golf and coffee with friends. Jim especially enjoyed meeting friends at the Deadhorse Society and the bank for coffee each day. He is survived by his wife Twila of 54 years, son Stephen, daughter-in-law Melinda and his only grandchild Haley Griffin all of Ft.
Worth, Texas. He is also survived by his sister Carol Ann Anderson, niece Ava Purcell and husband Keith of Alva, OK, brother Gail Griffin and wife Anita of Alton, Kansas, niece Jill Griffin Brady and husband Dr. Mark Brady, Overland Park, Kansas; nephew Ryan Griffin, wife Jana of Stockton, Kansas. He is survived by an extended family of great nieces and nephews in Northern Kansas.
He is preceded in death by his parents, nephews Ronald Anderson, Rick Griffin and brother-in-law Lester Anderson. A celebration of life service will take place at The First United Methodist Church in Weatherford at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, March 2, 2019. Services are under the direction of Lockstone Funeral Home of Weatherford.
Burial has taken place in Pleasant Plains Cemetery, rural Osborne County Kansas. He has returned home.
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