Navy Veteran William Griffin Dies at 89

William Lester Griffin, 89, of Applewood Estates, Freehold Township went to be with his Lord on Saturday, November 16, 2013 at Applewood Estates Healthcare Center.  He was born in Kansas City, Missouri in 1924.

He enlisted in the United States Navy in 1942 and served in the medical corps until 1946.

He graduated from the University of Missouri, Columbia with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business in 1948 and continued his education at New York University from 1968 to 1972.

He was employed at International Harvester from 1948 to 1956 and then at CIT Corporation in various positions including Vice President of Finance and Operations Manager of CIT Buildings Corporation, retiring in 1987 as Vice President of CIT’s ten state Eastern Region.

He was a life member of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post No. 4374, Freehold and served as Post Chaplain from 1997 to 2010, V.F.W. National Home for Children, Eaton Rapids, MI, Disabled American Veterans Post No. 74, Freehold, Sons of the American Revolution, New York Chapter, Pan American Medical Association, a 60 year member of the Masonic order and current member of Olive Branch Lodge No. 16, F.&A.M., Freehold, a 32 Degree member of the Scottish Rite Valley of Northeast Kansas, Topeka, Kansas, Crescent Temple Shrine of North American, and Alpha Kappa Phi Business Fraternity.

He served as an elder, trustee and Sunday School teacher in various churches.

After his retirement he devoted his life to volunteering. He served as an AARP Volunteer Income Tax Assistant including as an instructor and coordinator for Western Monmouth County. He volunteered over 6,500 hours at CentraState Medical Center where he was named as Volunteer of the Month on three occasions. He was named Volunteer of the Year in 2006 by the Monmouth Park Charity Ball Committee.  He was a past secretary and treasurer of the Central Jersey Rose Society. He was a member of the Applewood Residents Association where he served as President in 2003 and as chairman of various committees.

He was the author of over twenty books including “Rust, The History of the Pioneer Clark County, Ohio Family” and “150 Years of Ministry 1838-1988, The First Presbyterian Church of Freehold, N.J.”

His beloved wife of 56 years, Maryella Krautwater Griffin preceded him in death in 2002.

He is survived by a loving daughter and son-in-law, Mary Diane and William T. Pahl, two grandchildren, Lauren and Kelly Pahl as well as many beloved nephews and nieces. He will also be missed by his many friends, especially his dearest Anne Fritzinger.

Visiting will be held at the Higgins Memorial Home, 20 Center Street, Freehold on Tuesday from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m. Funeral services will be held at the First Baptist Church, 81 West Main Street, Freehold with Rev. William L. Frederickson officiating on Wednesday at 10:00 a.m. The interment will follow at Old Tennent Cemetery, Tennent.  V.F.W. services will be on Tuesday at 7:00 p.m.  Olive Branch Lodge services will be held on Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. Memorial donations may be made to the First Baptist Church of Freehold.