Jerald L Griffin Obituary (1926 - 2023)

Jerald L (Jerry) Griffin 1926-2023 Jerry Griffin transitioned from earth to Heaven early on Easter Sunday morning, 2023, at home in Oro Valley, AZ, where Jerry and his beloved wife Vee have lived since 1997. Most of his best (and longest) stories are of his Navy pilot years. He enlisted at age 17 during WWII. He trained in an N25 Stearman open cockpit bi-plane and in the Hellcat and flew Bearcats from the USS Valley Forge. He flew under the Golden Gate Bridge. When on the USS Valley Forge on their postwar world tour, he was at Tsingtao, China when it was being bombarded by the Red Army. He was on the first aircraft carrier to go through the Suez Canal after WWII. The carrier was on standby in the Mediterranean Sea while Israel became a nation and during Italy's postwar elections in 1948. In Bergen, Norway, the USS Valley Forge performed the pinwheel maneuver using airplane propellers to turn the ship in the fjord. Great adventures, but he was glad to get home to his wife and family. In 1952 Jerry earned an MBA at the University of Michigan and moved with his wife and four children to Midland, Michigan to work at Dow Corning. After 35 years he retired as Treasurer and Vice President. The love of his life was his wife, Vee. They eloped during WWII and stayed devotedly in love. Vee made sacrifices to be with Jerry wherever he was stationed in the Navy, and always put his wishes first, supported him in his desire to fly, and encouraged him to complete his university degrees. An avid golfer, he scored his age or less more than 400 times, always returning home announcing his success by singing the U of M fight song (Hail to the Victors). He shot numerous holes-in-one. He was an enthusiastic fisherman, fishing all over the U.S. and Canada and even New Zealand. His rule was always "You catch 'em, you clean 'em, you eat 'em", and he was known for his fabulous fish fry dinners. Jerry was born in Detroit, MI, to Julius and Beulah Griffin. He was the brother of Robert P. Griffin (later a U.S. Senator) and Gene Griffin, and his sister Gloria Janice Foster. Jerry was predeceased by his parents, brothers, his dear wife Vee, and his son Steve. He is survived by his sister, his three daughters: Kathleen Fenwick, Christine Woods, and Janet Potts (Craig), by 10 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren and by innumerable friends, family, golf buddies and fellow fishermen. He was famous for his 2-hole and 3-hole stories on the golf course, which was how long it took to tell them. His stories will live on as we retell them. There are no gallery images.