Marcia Ann Griffen

Marcia Ann Griffen of Elkhart, IN passed away on April 18, 2018 at age 87. She was born in Elkhart, Ind. on August 17,1930 to Evelyn {Shoemann) and Frederic Paul Conn. She was a graduate of Elkhart High School and Western Michigan University. She married Arthur Mitchell Griffen, Jr. at St. John's Episcopal Church in Elkhart on January 13,1951. He preceded her in death on July 16, 2011. She is survived by Richard Torok of Elkhart and Sarasota, FL, her close companion since 2017.

She is survived by daughters Dr. Ann Griffen (husband Dr. Gene Leys) of Columbus, OH and Tucson, AZ, Jane Griffen (husband Joseph Fruge and their son Kalei Lopez) of Portland, OR, and Lauren Griffen of Dayton, OH. She cherished her cousin Amy Ressa (husband Joseph Ressa and daughters Annie and Janie) of Oakton, VA as another daughter. She also had a circle of close and supportive friends who meant the world to her. Growing up as an only child she married into the large Griffen family and considered them all her brothers and sisters.

She was a member of St. David's Episcopal Church, Mid-Morning Meditators, the 4 Arts Club, ASPCA, HSUS, National and World Wildlife Federation, PETA, NRDC and Greenpeace, She was a longtime volunteer at Elkhart General Hospital and Susanna's Kitchen.

She worked at the Unemployment Office in Elkhart, and then in 1982, with her husband Arthur, started Griffen Plumbing-Heating-Cooling, Inc., selling the business and retiring in 1992.

Enjoying retirement, she and her husband traveled the world, many trips with "The Greece Group." In later years they purchased a motor home and traveled the US with their Airedale Gus. She enjoyed tennis, bridge, reading, and gardening, and was known for her green thumb and pie baking.

A memorial service will be held at St. David's Episcopal Church on Friday, May 11, 2018 at 2:30 pm. A gathering of family and friends will follow from 4:00 to 6:00 pm at Stemm-Lawson- Peterson Funeral Home.

Memorial contributions may be given to the Elkhart County Humane Society or St. David's Episcopal Church. Online condolences may be sent to www.stemmlawsonpeterson.com.