Vivian Earl Griffin, Jr., of Vestavia Hills, Alabama, passed away on Friday, September 7, 2018. He was blessed with 91 wonderful years of life guided by his strong Christian faith and by the love of a special family.
Earl was preceded in death by his parents, Vivian Earl Griffin, Sr., and Georgia Pearl Griffin. He is survived by his wife of 67 years, Miron Hopkins Griffin; sons, James (Sharon) Griffin and Kenny (Susan) Griffin; daughter, Mary Ann (Chris) Coggin; six grandchildren, Mary Lauren (Bart) McBride, Kelly (Matt) Weekley, Lindsay (Brad) Hilliard, Emily Griffin, David Coggin, and Daniel Coggin; and five great-grandchildren, Griffin Hilliard, Vivi McBride, Collier McBride, Brooks Hilliard, and Elizabeth McBride.
Earl was born on November 30, 1926 in Laurel, Mississippi, where he graduated from George S. Gardiner High School. He was a World War II veteran serving in the U.S. Army, primarily in the Philippine Islands. He was appointed sergeant major of the Armed Forces Western Pacific (USWESPAC) headquartered in Manila.
After military service, Earl entered the University of Alabama where he met his future wife, Miron, in their first class. He graduated from the School of Accounting in 1950 and was a member of Beta Alpha Psi accounting fraternity.
Earl was first employed by the Alabama division of Allis-Chalmers in Gadsden where he served in division accounting management. Later he joined the corporate financial headquarters of Vulcan Materials Company in Birmingham, where he served for 27 years in various financial positions before retiring in 1992 as director of corporate accounting.
Earl was a member of Briarwood Presbyterian Church for 53 years, serving as an elder and deacon. He also served on Briarwood's pastoral care team where he enjoyed ministering to senior groups. In April 2010, Earl had the opportunity to join 100 fellow veterans on an Honor Flight to Washington, D.C.
The family would like to express sincere appreciation to Earl's caregivers and all of the staff at Aspire at Cahaba River for their care and compassion. He was well-loved and had many dear friends at Aspire.
The family will receive friends on Tuesday, September 11, 2018, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Ridout's Southern Heritage Funeral Home in Pelham, Alabama, immediately followed by the funeral service at 1 p.m. at Ridout's Southern Heritage Chapel, 475 Cahaba Valley Road, Pelham. Interment will follow at Southern Heritage Cemetery, Pelham.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Big Oak Ranch, P.O. Box 507, Springville, AL 35146.
SHARE OBITUARY
v.1.8.18