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Elmer “Butch” Griffiths, 91, of Bellefontaine, went to meet his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, on April 2, 2017, while surrounded by family.
He was born Jan. 10, 1926, to Elmer J. and Hazel Fetter Griffiths.
He married three amazing women: Mary Smith, Norma Jean Mock and Cheryl Ann Richardson; and was a father to six: Kay Ann (Denzil) Dodds, Theresa Alexander, Vicki (John) Singer, Kim (Kerry) Buchenroth, Barbara Keykens and finally his boy, Jonathan (Kristina) Griffiths. He has 11 grandchildren, 28 great-grandchildren, five great-greatgrandchildren and one sister, Colleen (Don) Staver.
He was preceded in death by his parents; a brother, Owen; wife, Mary; wife, Norma; son-in-law, Art; and granddaughter, Brittany.
On Feb. 14, 1944, he entered the Army Air Force during WWII. He was a gunner on a B24, flying 53 missions out of Italy, bombing Germany and Austria. He said it was awful bombing oil fields because flack was terrible and it was very hard to see afterward.
He was an active member of Indian Lake Church of the Nazarene and loved teaching Sunday School. He started teaching Junior Boys and ended teaching Senior Citizens, teaching up to the age of 89. He also was a board member and served in about every capacity. A charter member of the Indian Lake EMS, he helped them obtain their first vehicle and first building to house the equipment.
A member of the Logan County Gideons since 1981, he held all the local offices and went on to become an area coordinator for the State of Ohio. He really enjoyed speaking in churches and sharing the work of the Gideons. He also liked to go to state and international conventions to find out how the gospel was being spread throughout the world.
He was a Lima businessman, buying out E. J. Griffiths and Sons automotive and electric business from his dad, and with the help of his brother, turning it into a sporting goods business.
He was an avid hunter and fisherman, spending many hours on Indian Lake fishing and frog gigging, as well as hours upon hours hunting on his small farm near Bellefontaine.
Even though he was a very hard worker, sometimes working two jobs to support his family, vacations were always important, and those memories will always keep his family laughing through the hard times.
Pastors Denzil Dodds and Tim Johnson will begin funeral services at 2 p.m. Saturday, April 8, at Indian Lake Northside Church of the Nazarene, 13699 State Route 235, Lakeview. Visitation is from 2 o 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, April 7, at Shoffstall Funeral Home, 205 S. Main St. Lakeview, and one hour prior to services at the church. Burial is in Huntsville Cemetery with military honors provided by the Logan County Veterans Honor Guard.
Memorial contributions may be given in his name to Gideon’s International.
Express condolences at shoffstallfuneralhome.com.