Warren Louis Griffin

Dr. Warren L. Griffin left this world to join the Saints on March 26, 2014. Visitation will be held Sunday March 30th from 5 to 7 p.m. at Johnson’s Funeral Home. Funeral Service will be held on Monday March 31st at 2:00 p.m. at First United Methodist Church. Interment will be Tuesday April 1st at 2:00 p.m. in Staples, TX at the Staples Cemetery.

Warren (Pa) was born on October 28, 1930 in Staples, Texas, the son of William Henry Griffin and Florence Loman Griffin. He graduated from Nixon High School in 1948 and from Sam Houston State University in 1951 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Vocational Agriculture. While at Sam Houston State University, he met and married Carolyn Kidd. He taught Vocational Agriculture in Needville, Texas and Anahuac, Texas. While teaching at Anahuac, one of his students, James Morris, was elected State FFA President. Warren and Carolyn had two children, Louis Henry and Mary Laura which were born while they were living in Anahuac. In 1960 Warren and Carolyn moved their family to Columbia, Missouri, where Warren earned a Doctorate Degree in Agricultural Education at the University of Missouri. Upon completion of his Doctorate, he accepted a job as Registrar at San Angelo Junior College in 1963. He remained at Angelo State University, first as Registrar, then as faculty until his retirement, a tenure lasting thirty years.

While in retirement, Dr. Griffin remained very active in his beloved First United Methodist Church of San Angelo. During his years serving First Methodist, he filled many positions within the church including Board Chairman and Chairmanships of the Pastor Parish Relationship Committee and Methodist Assistance. He also served at the district and regional levels in leadership positions in the Southwest Texas Conference of the Methodist Church. His lay mission work covered four continents. He was a Pilgrim in the first Walk to Emmaus held in the Southwest Texas Methodist Conference. He was Lay Leader of the fifth Walk. He and Carolyn were on the leadership team for the first Emmaus Walk ever conducted outside of the United States, which was held in Australia. As a member of the Board of Global Ministries within the Methodist Church, he traveled to Central America for mission work. Along with Carolyn, they served locally for many years in jail ministry. Following Perestroika, Warren and Carolyn were integral in establishing and supporting the Methodist Church in Vologda, Russia. This involved several trips to Russia during which they made many lasting friendships. Also during that work, they were active in fundraising to support orphanages in Vologda.

He was preceded in death by his son Louis Henry Griffin and his brother and sister-in-law Joel and Maggie Griffin. Warren is survived by Carolyn, his wife of 62 years, an older brother, William Bedford Griffin and wife Dell of Borger; his daughter Laura Burkhalter and husband Dr. Johnny Burkhalter of San Angelo; his daughter-in-law Cindy Griffin of Hawaii; his grandchildren Melissa Nealy and husband Dan of Sugarland and their daughter Katherine, Jeremy Sanders and his wife Hillary of San Angelo, Sarah Claunch and husband Phillip of Frisco; Tammy Griffin and Stephen Griffin of Houston.

Carolyn and the rest of the family would like offer special thanks to the Bayith Class of First Methodist Church and to the many special friends who offered their support during these difficult days. Memorials may be made to First United Methodist Church, San Angelo.

Family and friends can sign the online register book at www.johnsons-funeralhome.com