Granvil "Tom" Griffin

Granvil “Tom” Garland Griffin, age 84, of McDowell, was reunited with his wife, Wednesday, May 22, 2019 at the home of his son in Crimora.

He was born October 1, 1934 in Swoope to the late Herbert Kenton and Hazel (Fink) Griffin.

Tom was raised in Lone Fountain and graduated from Churchville High School in 1953.

At 10:30 a.m. on April 11, 1955 he married Mary “Janet” Losh and together they shared 63 loving years until her passing on November 13th of last year.

Tom had retired from Smith’s Transfer, was employed several years with Cerro Metal Products and had worked extensively in the Baltimore area in earlier years.  Most notably, Tom was employed as a funeral assistant with Obaugh Funeral Home for over 24 years.  Through those years he could be counted on day or night to answer the call of serving others, took great pride in his work, and proved time and time again to be an invaluable part of the funeral home’s family – he will be sorely missed.

A man of unwavering faith, he was a member of McKendree United Methodist Church and Lay Speaker for the McDowell UMC Charge.  Additionally, he was a former member of the Stonewall Ruritan Club and charter member of the McDowell Volunteer Fire Department.

Tom will be remembered as possessing a happy disposition which was ever-present, even in the face of adversity.  He was a gifted and productive vegetable gardener (in spite of his “late” gardens) and loved canning, baking, and cooking meals for his family.  He enjoyed fishing trips with his son, hunting ginseng, visits from friends, and to simply help others.  To his family he was a loving father, grandfather and provider.  And to his wife, Tom Griffin was a devoted, faithful and most importantly loving husband to his last day.

In addition to his parents and wife, he was predeceased by a sister, and 5 brothers.

Surviving family members include his three children, Granvil G. “Junior” Griffin Jr. of Crimora, Diane Lynn Ruckman of Jacksonville, N.C. and Kenneth Wayne Griffin of Grand Lake, Co; six grandchildren, Brent Griffin of Newport, N.C., Dustin Griffin and wife, Mollie of Stuarts Draft, Thomas D. Ruckman of Troy, N.C., Tamara Thaxton of Jacksonville, N.C., Jeremiah Denver Griffin and Granvil Kenton Griffin of Colorado; three great-grandchildren, Haley Nicole Ruckman of Jacksonville, N.C. Isabella Thaxton of Jacksonville, N.C. and Kendall Marie Griffin of Newport, N.C.; his brothers, Calvin Griffin of Staunton and Jack Griffin of Churchville; Sisters, Wilma Brown of Staunton and Opal Goble of Stuarts Draft; as well as a great number of nieces, nephews and cousins.

A funeral will be held at 11 a.m., Wednesday, May 29, 2019 at Obaugh Funeral Home with the Rev. Chilton McPheeters officiating. Interment will follow in Head Waters Cemetery.

The family will receive friends from 6-8 p.m., Tuesday evening at the funeral home.

Active pallbearers include Duane Ruckman, Jeremiah D. and Granvil K. Griffin, Brent and Dustin Griffin, as well as G.W., Brent, Kyle and Bryan Obaugh

In lieu of flowers, the family suggest memorial donations be made to the Highland County Rescue Squad, P.O. Box 268, Monterey, Va. 24465 or the McDowell Volunteer Fire Department, c/o Delbert Rexrode, 527 Windrush Lane, Doe Hill, Va. 24433.