Arthur Mitchell Griffen

Arthur Mitchell “Art” Griffen, 81, died at 1:00 pm Saturday, July 16, 2011 at his home
in Elkhart.

He was born October 26, 1929 in South Bend to the late Arthur M., Sr. and Edna C. (Myers) Griffen. He was a 1948 graduate of Edwardsburg High School and attended Western Michigan University. He served in the US Army Corp. of Engineers, stationed in the Panama Canal Zone, from Feb. 1951 thru Jan. 1953.

He married Marcia Ann Conn on January 13, 1951 at St. John’s Episcopal Church in Elkhart. Surviving are his wife of 60 years, Marcia Griffen; daughters Dr. Ann Griffen (Dr. Gene Leys) of Columbus, OH and Tucson AZ, Jane Griffen (O. Joseph Fruge) of Portland, OR, and Lauren Conn Griffen of Dayton, OH; grandson Kalei of Portland, OR; and special relatives Joseph and Amy Ressa, and Annie and Janie Ressa of Winchester, VA.

Also surviving are siblings Shirley (Wallace) Goodhew of Granger, James (Patricia) Griffen of Pleasonton, CA, Edward Griffin of Metamora, IN, Katherine (Rob) Hall of Dowagiac, MI, Margaret (James) Coffey of Spring Lake, MI, and Richard (Susan) Griffen of Elkhart. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his sister Isabel Miller.

Art was employed at Shreiner & Sons, Inc. for 25 years before starting his own company, Griffen Plumbing-Heating-Cooling, Inc. with wife Marcia in 1982. They sold the business and retired in May of 1992. Art enjoyed woodworking, reading, golf and tennis with his special buddies, “The Brandy Boys.” He and Marcia traveled extensively worldwide during retirement, taking many memorable vacations with “The Greece Group.” They also spent 3 years traveling the United States in their motor home with Gus, their airedale.

Art loved his family and treasured his friends. During his last illness, they were always available and eager to help, for which Marcia and children will be eternally grateful.

Visitation will be from 5:00 to 7:00 pm Friday, July 22nd at Stemm-Lawson-Peterson Funeral Home at Cobblestone Crossing, Elkhart. A Requiem Mass with Father Henry Randolph officiating, will be at 3:00 pm Saturday, July 23rd at St. David’s Episcopal Church, 26824 CR 4 West. Cremation has taken place and the cremains will be placed in the Columbarium at St. David’s. The Griffens were one of the founding families of St. David’s.

Memorials may be directed to Faith Mission, 801 Benham Ave, Elkhart, IN 46517 or St. David’s Episcopal Church. Visit www.stemmlawsonpeterson.com to sign an online guestbook.