Richard L. "Dick" Griffis

Angola:

Richard (Dick or Griff) L. Griffis, 88, passed away on October 17, 2015, at Northern Lakes Nursing and Rehabilitation Center. Dick was a devoted husband and family man, much loved and admired for his cheerful, positive attitude, sense of humor and infamous limericks, steadfast patience and loyalty, high ethical standards, his kind and generous nature, and unconditional love and support for his family and friends. Dick loved hunting and fishing, big band, swing, and jazz music, sports, euchre, and most of all his family and friends, with whom he was so actively engaged until his recent rapid decline with Alzheimer’s this year.

Dick was born July 13, 1927, in Findlay, MI, to the late Russell and Mildred (Shook) Griffis.  Dick and his siblings, Gracye and Carl ("Cork"), were raised in Sturgis, MI, by their grandmother, Rosa Shook, after the untimely deaths of their parents when Dick was a young boy. Dick married Elizabeth Frame, his high school sweetheart, on May 27, 1950, at the Presbyterian Church in Lagrange, IN, and enjoyed nearly 50 years of marriage and close family life with Liz and their three children and extended families.

After Dick served in the US Navy at the end of World War II, he and Liz moved in 1948 to Angola where Dick attended Tri-State College and earned his degree in Civil Engineering in 1951. Dick went on to teach at TSC for 12 years, then served as TSU's Facilities Engineer for more than 25 years, overseeing the expansion and upgrade of the campus and the construction of Zollner Golf Course. During this time he also was employed as an engineer on the construction of the Indiana Toll Road. After his tenure at Tri-State, Dick served as Angola City Engineer up to his retirement in 1993. He was a starter on the Sturgis High School basketball team that won the Michigan State Class B Championship in 1945, and he held the Indiana state record for biggest brown trout for several years in the 1960s. Dick was inducted into TU's Athletic Hall of Fame in 2006 in recognition of his contributions to the university’s sports programs and success. He was a member of the American Legion Post 31 and Angola Moose Lodge, and he enjoyed the fellowship of the congregation of the Angola Community Church of the Nazarene.

Dick is survived by his son and daughter-in-law, Greg and Kathy Griffis of Angola and two daughters and sons-in-law, Karen “Susie” and Dan Hammel of Angola and Cindy and Randy Plank of Panama City, FL, as well as good friend Mary Osborne of Angola. Also surviving are 8 grandchildren, 7 great-grandchildren, and sister Gracye Notestine of Sturgis, MI. Dick was preceded in death by his beloved wife Liz and his brother Carl “Cork” Griffis.

Memorials: In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial contributions to the Alzheimer’s Association of Indiana, 9135 N. Meridian Street, Suite B-4, Indianapolis, IN  46209. www.alzindiana.org.  

Services:  A Celebration of Life gathering will take place at Zollner Golf Course club house at Trine University in Angola on Sunday, November 8, from Noon - 3:00 p.m.

H.E. Johnson & Sons Funeral Home in Angola is handling the arrangements.

To leave condolences visit:  www.hejohnsonfh.com

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