Leonard Griffin

Leonard Griffin was born on September 13, 1947, to the late Berry Griffin and Hannah Hawthorne. He was one of seven children, with five brothers and one sister. His brother, Tyrone Griffin, is his surviving sibling.

Leonard met and fell in love with Theresa Theriot, whom he married. From their union, God blessed Leonard and Theresa Griffin with two children, Quintella Griffin and LaMonte Griffin. Leonard had no grandchildren. Later in life, Leonard married his high school sweetheart, Gwendolyn Blevins. Leonard and Gwendolyn Griffin had no children together.

Leonard came from a large and loving family and was blessed with numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, aunts, uncles, and other relatives whom he dearly loved. He shared an especially close relationship with his beloved aunt, Beatrice Hawthorne Franklin of St. Louis, Missouri, who is 92 years old. He also dearly loved his niece Jada Jones-Clark, her husband, and their children.

Leonard was a Baptist. Although he did not have a home church, he attended services at various churches throughout Moreno Valley, Los Angeles, and surrounding communities. Family and friends often sought Leonard's wisdom and advice. He had friends of all ages and ethnic backgrounds and genuinely enjoyed being around people. Leonard was an extremely generous man who willingly shared what he had with others. He loved to travel, experience life, and spend time with the people he cared about.

Among the things most important to Leonard were his family, his dedication and service to the United States Air Force, and his desire to become successful in life—a dream he fulfilled. He had a lifelong love of Corvettes, beginning when he was a young boy, and also enjoyed classic cars. Leonard loved music of all kinds, especially jazz and blues. He was a history buff, fascinated by airplanes, loved a good piece of meat and could tell you everything there was to know about a cow. His love of aviation continued professionally through his career with Boeing, where he worked until his retirement.

Leonard was also a devoted Chicago Bulls fan, enjoyed playing cards, and was a member of the Moreno Valley Senior Center, where he treasured the companionship and friendships he made. Leonard lived life fully, loved people generously, and left an unforgettable impression on those fortunate enough to know him. His wisdom, laughter, generosity, love of family, dedication to his country, and unmistakable passion for Corvettes will forever be remembered. His earthly journey may be complete, but his legacy and the love he gave will continue to live on in the hearts of his family and friends.