Kern County CA Archives Obituaries.....Griffin , Richard January 25, 2006 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/ca/cafiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: K T bluewolf@onemain.com January 28, 2006, 9:42 pm The Bakersfield Californian Griffin, Richard Richard Griffin Dec. 5, 1915 - Jan. 25, 2006 Mon., Jan. 30, 10:00 a.m. Richard Griffin was born in Farmington, New Mexico on Dec. 5, 1915, the youngest son of Blanche Mae and George Griffin. When Dick was 5, the Griffins moved to California. Five years later, Blanche and George divorced, and Dick and his older brother, Webster, stayed with their mother. Though raising two children on her own during the Depression had to be difficult, Blanche never dropped a stitch. Boys in tow, she started her own beauty shop in Mojave and grew it into what would become The French Shop, a womens clothing store in Bakersfield for many years. When Dick would recall his teenage years and early adulthood, his stories were peppered with adventures with brother Web, Shorty Guthrie and other friends. He would describe his short stint as a 19-year-old hard-rock minor in Mojave, about being fired three times in one week, and about being the operator of a chemical potash plant in Trona. Then, his mother asked for help at the French Shop, and Dick decided to learn some bookkeeping skills. He entered Lufkin's Business School, where he completed a two-year business course in six months - and married one of his teachers, Mary Moore, with whom he shared the next 63 years. Dick took a job with a public utility company by day, and did the French Shop books at night. The hard work paid off and, on Pearl Harbor Day (Dec. 7, 1941), The French Shop moved in to a new building on Baker Street. In 1943, Dick joined the service. He enlisted at the ripe old age of 28, and was quickly dubbed "Pop" Griffin by the younger men he piloted as flight commander of a B-17 squadron in England. He completed an amazing 30 missions with the 398th Bomb Group, 8th Air Force, First Air Division, and was discharged in 1945 with the rank of captain. Like many veterans of the era, Dick did not revel in war stories. It took years for him to share those memories, not only the pain and suffering, but also the pride and deep friendship he felt for the young men who served with him. Together, he and Mary raised two children - Michael Allyn Griffin and Melinda McKean Westfahl. Dick became involved in community, serving as a Boy Scout pack leader, chairman of several United Way Fund drives, president of the YMCA, a 50-year member of the Masonic Order, 60 year member of the Rotary Club of Bakersfield, and the chartering sponsor of the Rotary Club of Bakersfield East, whose members still refer to him as "the father of our club." At the French Shop, Dick and Mary worked side-by-side with his mother, the dynamic Blanche Mae Nelson. After Mrs. Nelson retirement, they continued to operate the business for many years. Later, when daughter Melinda picked up the reins, both Mary and Dick continued to go to work every day, tending to whatever tasks needed doing. Dick's hobby was golf - which he pursued into his 80s. He played in any tournament available from the Boy Scouts to the Bob Hope Invitational at Lakeside Country Club. He would trade his handicap to shoot his age. After Mary's passing in early 2003, Dick lived with his daughter and son-in-law, Melinda and Mike Westfahl, who tenderly cared for him during his last years. Dick was preceded in death by his wife, Mary, and his brother, Webster. Leaving to cherish his memory are son, Michael Griffin and wife, Patty; daughter, Melinda Westfahl and husband, Michael. He also leaves his beloved grandchildren, Zachary Griffin and wife, Hannah, Michael Casey Griffin, Ryan McKean and wife, Becky, and granddaughter, Mary Mavis McKean and fiancé, Eric Durrett. He has three adored great-grandchildren, Jacob Griffin and Griffin and Durgan McKean. Services will be held at 10:00 a.m. Monday, January 30, at Greenlawn Mortuary. Graveside services will immediately follow. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorial donations be made in Dick's memory to the Bakersfield East Rotary Foundation, P.O. Box 2383, Bakersfield, CA 93303. Legacy.com Published in the Bakersfield Californian from 1/28/2006 - 1/29/2006. Additional Comments: Volunteer submission - No relation to deceased No other information available from submitter. Obituaries http://www.legacy.com/bakersfield/LegacyHome.asp File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/ca/kern/obits/g/griffin1871gob.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/cafiles/ File size: 4.9 Kb