Aug 22, 2013

Fallowfield educator, civic leader, Army veteran

Clinton William Griffith, 95, of Fallowfield Township, died Wednesday, August 21, 2013.

He was born April 23, 1918, in Comanche County, Kan., a son of Clarence Richard and Pearl Jayne Behanna Griffith.

His family moved to North Carolina and then back to Monongahela when he was about 10 years old.

A graduate of Monongahela High School in 1937, he worked for Donora Nail Mill and later for People’s Gas Co. as a line walker patrolman in the mountains between Cresson and Altoona, prior to entering the U.S. Army in March 1942. He served in the European Theater with the 369th Tank Destroyers and saw action during the Battle of the Bulge. He was decorated with the African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with two bronze stars and remained in Europe as part of the Occupying Army until June 1946.

Upon his return, he rejoined People’s Gas Co. while completing college preparatory courses at Johnstown High School. He then married Dorothy Mae Harper of Monongahela. Driving taxi in Monongahela at night, he attended California Teachers College and earned a degree in education. He continued on to attend the University of Pittsburgh, where he earned a master’s degree and ABD (All But Dissertation) in education.

He began his career teaching in Monongahela at Old Main, was later promoted to assistant principal at Monongahela Junior High School and, in 1960, accepted the position of supervising principal for Fallowfield Township. With the merger of Fallowfield Township schools with Charleroi, he was named director of elementary education. He retired in 1980 after many years of dedicated service to the education of children.

With faith and family as his foundation, Mr. Griffith dedicated his working life to the education of children and community service. He was a member of the Journey by Grace Church of Belle Vernon. He also served in various civic capacities, first as Monongahela City Controller in the early 1950s and as a member of a Monongahela Civic Association, where he was instrumental in the founding of local Boys and Girls Clubs. He served as member and president of Fallowfield Township Lions Club. He was a member and president of Fallowfield Township Civic Association. Under his leadership, chairmen were appointed who started the Fallowfield Township Volunteer Fire and Police departments.

When a name was being sought for the newly formed Ringgold School District, Mr. Griffith submitted the name selected, using one letter from each of the communities that comprised the new district with the extra “G” in Ringgold, which was added to reference the historical name of the Ringgold Cavalry that was formed with volunteers from the area during the Civil War.

He provided artwork and cartoons for numerous political campaigns, has written several children’s stories and had numerous articles published in Reminisce Magazine.

Deceased are his wife, Dorothy Mae Harper Griffith; brothers Meredith, Kenneth, William, Dale and Duane; and sisters Rebecca Griffith and Shirley Christopher.

Surviving are brother Joseph (Paulette) of Phoenix, Ariz.; sister June (Harold) Myers of Donora; sons Thomas (Sharon) of Fallowfield Township, Mark (Sue) of Washington and James (Natalie) of Hartford, Ala.; daughters Cathy Paterra, Robin (Craig) Meny, Wendy (Don) Zippay, all of Fallowfield Township, and Merri Beth (Harry) Allen of Bridgeville; 17 grandchildren, Melanie Griffith, Michelle Grias, Malinda Crowe, Matthew Paterra, Megan Paterra, Lauren Lamb, Kip Griffith, Chapin Meny, Anthony Griffith, Seth Griffith, Shannon Linn, Amy Sanders, Danielle O’Bryan, Shannon O’Bryan, Heather Galeza, Clinton Griffith II and Haley Griffith; and 20 great-grandchildren.

Friends will be received from 2 to 4 and 6 to 9 p.m. Friday in Frye Funeral Home Inc., 427 West Main Street, Monongahela. Additional visitations will be held from 11 a.m. to noon, at which time the funeral service will begin, Saturday, August 24, in Journey By Grace Church, Belle Vernon, with the Rev. William Bailey officiating. Interment will follow in Monongahela Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made to Journey By Grace Church, 4803 State Route 51 North, Belle Vernon, PA 15012.

Condolences may be made to the family at www.fryefuneralhome.com.