Lon Keith Griffith (1946-2023)

(Please share this email with friends of Keith.)

A memorial service will be held at Tarrytown United Methodist Church on Tuesday, June 13^th, at 11am. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations can be made to the Tarrytown UMC Endowment Fund, or the charity of your choice.

Lon Keith Griffith, 76, passed away in Austin, Texas on June 1, 2023, after suffering various ailments. He was born October 24, 1946 in Pampa, Texas to Bess Priddy Griffith and Merlin Keith Griffith. Keith grew up in Pampa, Texas, where he graduated from Pampa High School in 1965. Growing up, Keith participated enthusiastically in many sports, including football and track throughout high school. He was also active in Boy Scouts, achieving the rank of Eagle Scout. In his adult life he enjoyed being involved in Clark’s Scout activities, joining him at Philmont Scout Ranch in Cimarron, NM for a ten-day camping trip. He was a proud father when Clark became an Eagle Scout.

Keith was a member of Pi Kappa Alpha at The University of Texas where he made lifelong friends and stories he loved to share. He enjoyed many friendships during his forty-seven years in banking and as a member of The Admirals Club and

Knights of the Symphony in Austin. He was a member of the Masonic family, Austin Lodge No 12. In 2022 he was awarded a Masonic award for 40+ years of service. During the summer he loved driving all over the United States showing Martha and Clark places they had never seen. He visited all fifty states, finally marking off Alaska – his final state - on a cruise with Martha in 2013. After retirement he and Martha were excited to travel across Europe and Asia and had the opportunity to walk across the Great Wall of China in 2018. He was a longtime fan of UT sports and loved Texas football. He held season tickets for many years and almost never missed a Texas / OU game. He loved nothing more than talking sports, business, and everything in between with Clark.

In 2012 he welcomed his first grandchild, Emmett, and became known as GrrGrr. Grandson Cal arrived in 2015. Martha and Keith were thrilled to be with them in Thomasville, GA for birthdays and holidays.

He and Martha were members of the Swift Class at Tarrytown United Methodist Church for over thirty years, a close-knit group of friends with whom they shared many activities.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Bess and M.K. Griffith. He is survived by his wife of fifty-one years, Martha West Griffith; his son, Clark Overton* Griffith and his wife Sina Ellis Griffith of Thomasville, GA; and grandsons Emmett Clark Overton Griffith and William Calhoun Griffith.

A memorial service will be held at Tarrytown United Methodist Church on Tuesday, June 13^th, at 11am. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations can be made to the Tarrytown UMC Endowment Fund, or the charity of your choice.

• Notice that Emmett has “Overton” as one of his middle names. Martha’s mother was related to Dr. M. C. Overton who resided in Pampa. He delivered Pat and me; I am sure he delivered several of the members of the Class of 1965, too.