Stephen Stanley Douglas Griffith

Commander (USN, Retired) Stephen Stanley Douglas Griffith, age 94, died peacefully at Westminster Woods, Julington Creek on July 19, 2017. Steve was born on December 18, 1922, the son of Edna Simplot and Pinder Worth Griffith in Bellingham, Washington. After graduating from Bellingham High School in 1941, he went to work on a fishing boat and at the Salmon Canneries in the Aleutian Islands, Alaska. He returned in the fall and studied math and chemistry at Western Washington State College. Steve enlisted in the US Navy on June 26, 1942 and was accepted in the V12 Program at the University of Washington; he

received his BS in Mechanical Engineering in 1945. He met his wife Gerry, a fellow student at a dance in 1943. They were married on June 22, 1944 and enjoyed 70 years of marriage until her death in 2015. Steve was deployed to the Pacific aboard the USS Moale and began a career as a Supply Officer for 26 years serving in the United States, Hawaii and Asia. In 1961 he received an MBA from George Washington University where he became fascinated by large computer systems, a career path he followed for the rest of his life. Steve retired from the Navy on June 22, 1968 at the Jacksonville Naval Air Station. Steve began a second career as the Director of Data Processing for the Florida Department of Labor and Employment Security in Tallahassee, Florida. Steve and Gerry lived in Tallahassee for 38 years before moving to Westminster Woods in 2006. Steve and Gerry were devoted to the Episcopal Church of the Advent. Steve was on the vestry for 7 years. He also enjoyed woodworking, bird watching and flower gardening. Steve and Gerry especially enjoyed travelling to the Cascades and Canada.

Steve is survived by his two daughters, Christy G. Baldwin (George H. Baldwin, III) and Dr. Catherine A. Griffith: one grandson, George H. Baldwin, IV and three great grandchildren, Porter Russell Baldwin, Sofia Lenae Baldwin and Rihannon Lenae Baldwin.

A Celebration of Steve’s life will be at Westminster Woods July 29, 2017 at 10:00am. The family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the

Westminster Woods at Julington Creek Foundation. The family would like to thank Community Hospice, Pastor Merlin Conrad, Pastor Deborah McCleod, the nursing staff at Westminister Woods and Wanda Johnson.

Arrangements by HardageGiddens Oaklawn Chapel, 4801 San Jose Blvd, Jacksonville. www.hardagegiddensoaklawnchapel.com.