Charles Thomas Griffin Obituary - Visitation & Funeral Information

Tom was born on May 8, 1937 in Springfield OH, son of Dr. Charles Griffin and his 2nd wife Emmeline Thomas Griffin. "Doc" Griffin was a much respected veterinarian, one of the first vets to be graduated from Ohio State University, and who served honorably during WW I in the Veterinary Corp. Tom led a charmed childhood, the darling of his elder half-siblings: George who came home from WW II full of tales of war and heros to wow a young boy; sister Bonnie, a "rosie the riveter " who worked in the war factories, made fudge and took him downtown; and eldest sister Rosemarie, still surviving at almost 99 years of age. Tom's first job was delivering the Springfield afternoon newspaper as a young boy on his bike. Later he would find his career in the big time newspaper world - at a time when newspapers were big. First at the Dayton (OH) Daily News, then editor of the New Carlyle Sun, also OH. After joining the St Petersburg Times in Florida in the late 1960's he quickly rose through the ranks, becoming Advertising Director of the esteemed 'last remaining major independent newspaper' in the United States. Moving on to Little Rock where he gave the Arkansas Gazette a shot in the arm, then to Colorado with a small group of weeklies as president of Griffin Communications. Even after retiring to Arizona, newspaper ink still in his blood, he wound down his career at the Arizona Republic and Scottsdale Progress. Mostly recently, in Utah, Tom stayed busy as a school bus driver for Wasatch County and later for Park City Day School. Word is that the kids thought he was a bit eccentric, but very cool. He often had a game or a quiz to see who would win the candy bar. Tom had three children from his first marriage of 16 years. They all received the greatest gift he could bestow - that of superior intellects. He supported them well and generously from childhood through their college graduations. Kathryn, who became a math professor at Urbana University in OH, suffered an untimely death at the age of only 54; Charles is general manager of numerous automobile enterprises, and Louisa is mother and mentor to three young girls, all high achievers in school and sports. Tom's children and their seven children will remember him with pride. Tom met his second wife Judith Judd, at the St Petersburg Times; they have been together 44 years. Their odyssey took them cross country from Florida to Arkansas to Colorado, then Arizona and Utah. He was there for her in 1987 when doctors wrongly estimated she had less than 6 months to live. And in spite of several years traveling separate paths, Judith was there for Tom, with love and care, at his death. They moved to Park City in 2005; Judith currently resides in Midway. The Griffin family appreciates the care and kindness of the many medical institutions and staffers who assisted Tom is his last months. Probst Family Funerals has been especially caring and professional. A graveside memorial will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, June 17, 2016 at the Midway Cemetery. Condolences maybe shared online at www.probstfamilyfunerals.com

Charles Thomas Griffin

May 8, 1937 - June 9, 2016