Earl A Griffith

Earl was preceded in death by his wife of 57 years, Betty Griffith and daughter Linda Orr. Surviving are his wife of 15 years Patty Easterlin; sons Garry (Dar) and Bill (Linda); granddaughters Kelli Duckworth, Laura Bumgardner, Jodi Bender, and Annie Wilkins; and eight great grandchildren. Also surviving are sister-in-law Peggy Heil, and Patty’s daughters Susan Brisben and Sylvia Hines.

Following graduation in 1945 he enlisted in the navy and served as an aviation machinist flight engineer on a PBM Mariner Sea Plain, logging 375 flight hours. Many years later, he cherished his opportunity to participate in a Greenville “Honor Flight” with his son Garry. Earl graduated from The Ohio State University with a degree in agriculture, pursuing a career in sales of horticultural supplies to farms and golf courses. After raising their three children in Ohio, Earl and Betty moved to Greenville where he established Griffith Turf Products specializing in golf course turf management. The couple moved to Fripp Island where their growing family made wonderful memories together. They later lived in Sun City SC where Betty died in 2003.

Earl was a Free Mason, a 15-year volunteer marshal at the Heritage Golf Tournament, and past president of the Archbold, OH Lions Club, South Carolina Golf Course Superintendants Association, and the Sun City Men’s Golf Association.

Friends are invited to remember Earl at a gathering at The Palmettos of Mauldin assisted living facility located at 810 East Butler Road Greenville on Thursday March 12th at 4 PM. Earl’s family will lay him to rest in a private service on Fripp Island. The family would like to thank the staffs of The Palmettos and The Springs at Simpsonville, as well as Earl’s neighbor Danielle Roland for their kindness, care and support.