John Randall Griffin Sr.
John Randall Griffin Sr., 77, retired Chief Warrant Officer of Chicora, passed away Saturday morning at VAMC-Aspinwall, Pittsburgh, following an illness.
Born in Eldorado, Ill. on Nov. 29, 1939, he was a son of the late Burlie E. and Hazel Williams Griffin.
Following graduation from high school, he began a 20-year career with the U.S. Army, beginning with basic training at Fort Leonard Wood, Mo. Over the next 20 years, he distinguished himself as a selfless serviceman earning the following medals: two Good Conduct Medals, NDSM, Vietnam Service and Vietnam Campaign medals, Bronze Star with V-device, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, two Meritorious Unit Commendation Medals, Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm, and two Overseas Service Bars.
From attaining the rank of SFC (E-7), he then became a warrant officer rising to the rank of chief warrant officer 3, the rank from which he retired on May 1, 1978, at Fort Knox, Ky.
In addition to the military service, Mr. Griffin earned an associate degree from Thomas A. Edison College of New Jersey and a bachelor of science degree from Slippery Rock University.
He was Protestant by faith and was a member of the VFW and DAV.
Surviving are three children and their spouses, Cheryl (Herb) Griffin-Boylan of Parker, Audra (Robert) Ronzano of Chalfont, Pa., and Lt. Col. John R. (Dawn) Griffin Jr. of Wiesbaden, Germany; eight grandchildren, Michael (Kate) Boylan, McKayla Boylan, Donald (Bubba) Boylan, Zachary Ronzano, Demitri Marillo, Tyler Gonzales, Lauren Gonzales and Karys Griffin; one great grandchild, Gaven Boylan; six siblings, all of Eldorado, Ill., Burlie Ray, Brian, David and Kenneth Griffin, Emma Lee Holt, and Daisy Mae Wienstoer.
GRIFFIN — Friends of John Randall Griffin Sr., who died Saturday morning, June 10, 2017, may call from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday at H. Jack Buzard Funeral Home, 201 S. Wayne Ave., Parker.Members of VFW and American Legion posts of Parker will conduct services at 10:45 a.m. Friday at the funeral home before the funeral service at 11 a.m. at the funeral home.Burial will be in Cemetery of Alleghenies, Bridgeville.In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials to Pittsburgh Fisher House, University Drive C, Bldg. 33, Pittsburgh, PA 15240To view/send condolence, sympathy cards visit www.buzardfuneralhomes.com
