Lela Sengel Griffith

Lela (Lee) was born in Los Angeles, California on March 30, 1927, to her parents, Jerome Sengel and Lela Otto Sengel. After graduating from Fairfax High School in 1945, Lee remained in Los Angeles to attend UCLA where she was a stand-out tennis player.

After graduating in 1950 with a degree in Physical Education, she moved to the Bay Area where she met and married William (Bill) Roy Griffith in 1952. Lee and Bill moved to Orinda, California after their daughter, Linda Lee, sadly lost her battle with leukemia in 1961 to begin a new chapter in life. She remained in Orinda until a few years after losing her lifetime love of 46 years, Bill, to Alzheimer’s disease in 1998. Lee then moved to the Rossmoor Community in Walnut Creek before moving to Fresno to be closer to family.

Lee was a science teacher for over 25 years in the Bay Area until she retired in1976. She enjoyed playing golf with her husband at the Richmond Country Club after retirement, but never lost her love of teaching and tennis. In 1987 Lee merged those two passions and became a tennis instructor at the Moraga Country Club. It was with great pleasure and professionalism that she passed on her tennis legacy to “Lee’s girls” until a remarkable 90 years of age. Doing what she loved undoubtedly contributed to her long and fruitful life. It was a blessing to our family that Lee moved to Fresno, so we could spend more time with her and enjoy the stories of her truly eventful life.

Lee is preceded in death by her husband, William Roy Griffith, daughter Linda Lee Griffith, parents, two sisters Geraldine Bruttig and Mary Elizabeth (Maybeth) Hall, and a nephew Bart Bruttig. Remaining to cherish Lee’s memory are her son William Griffith, daughter-in-law Elvira Griffith, grandchildren Stacy Transou (Jeff), Blair Nelson (Aaron), Billy Griffith, and her great-grandchildren, Luke, Chloe, Emmy and Everly, and two nieces Chrissie Smith and Kathy Hall. She will be missed by all that loved her.

The family will gather privately to celebrate the life of Lela Griffith, beloved Mom, Grandma, and GiGi Lee. A special thank you from Lee’s family to Fairwinds at Woodward Park for their kindness and the care Lee received during her stay with them. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Saint Agnes Home Health and Hospice.