Edward Allan Griffith

April 14, 1948 - February 3, 2022

Edward Allan Griffith, husband, father, brother, son, and friend, passed away on February 3, 2022 at Providence Hospital – Hospice Care Center after a short but hard-fought battle with internal bleeding. Ed met this challenge with the same strength, tenacity, and valor that he used when fighting cancer, depression, and Alzheimer’s Disease. Edward Allan Griffith was born on April 30, 1948 to Shirley and William Griffith in Springfield MA. His brother, Wayne, and sister, Virginia were happy to have Ed to be part of their family. A few years later sister, Lynda, joined the pack. William worked as an air craft mechanic and was part of the mechanical crew that manufactured and developed the Bee Gee racing aircraft. The family moved to the southern California area where the kids grew into their teen years. Later, they moved to the Sacramento area. Ed attended and graduated from Rio Linda High School. After working at Sambo’s Restaurant for a short time, Ed was hired on at McClellan Air Force Base as a warehouseman and later went on to building radar jamming units, de-sealing/resealing F-111 fuel tanks, repairing test stations and rebuilding F-111 electronic gear and trying to “break” planes in the Cold Proof facility. It was during the warehouse days that Ed met Rod, Linda’s brother. They found they both were trying to keep their cars running with bailing wire and duct tape This shared identity as “gear heads” with Rod soon became so much more as Linda came into the picture. The first time Linda met Ed, he was under his car and was covered with oil from head to foot. Linda often says all she could see were Ed’s dazzling blue eyes and the rest was history. Ed and Linda were married in Orangevale CA at the Redeemer Covenant Church on February 9, 1968. At the time of his passing, Ed and Linda had created a rich married life together and they were getting ready to celebrate their 54th anniversary. Ed was drafted into the army on April 10, 1968, during the Vietnam era. As he completed basic training, he excelled both becoming an expert marksman and later as an expert mortarman. We were sure (and terrified) that he was going to Vietnam. However, God had another plan. Ed was sent to Germany to drive a mortar track. While in Germany, he received word from the Red Cross that he had a baby son born. “Mom and baby were fine.” The word reached him while he was in sick bay complete with stomach cramps… “sympathy pains” we like to call them. Two years later, life resumed for Ed, Linda and Eddie who was madly in love with his daddy – he was 18 months old the first time they met and they became fast friends. The family settled in the Roseville area for a time and then shortly thereafter Eric came into their lives. Their family was complete. Ed had wisely guided that they had two wonderful children to raise and wanted to put all their effort into raising those two boys the best they could. Although Ed worked at and retired from McClellan AFB after 28 years, he also later worked at Reserve America as an inventory specialist. He loved to tell people that he worked with all the State parks and many of the National parks to ensure their campground inventory was properly placed in the system so people could experience the parks he loved so well. Linda believes he loved the job so much because it kept his traveling dream alive. Over the course of their married life, Ed, Linda and the boys visited almost every National Park from the Rocky Mountain National Park west to the Pacific Ocean. State parks were equally experienced but Linda is pretty sure they didn’t hit them all. Linda and Ed also had the amazing experience of traveling the southwestern quadrant of the United States for almost seven months. They also took a short dive into Mexico and later into Canada. Other hobbies, and interests include: Music, woodworking, swimming, reading, camping, soccer, traveling, star gazing, construction and home improvement. As a family we cannot recall any home we have ever shared, that he did not renovate, add on to, or alter in some fashion. He was truly a genius in taking little and making much with it. His innovation and capability to fabricate solutions in unexpected ways (thinking of the plywood lawnmower wheels) was truly a joy to behold. He loved not only his family but also people in general and was in no way shy to demonstrate this care in practical ways offering up his time and efforts as a gift over and over again. Ed was a “churchman” serving in numerous ministries over the years. His acts of service include things like being the logistics coordinator for many youth camp outs to Wright’s Lake, Youth Conventions in LA, Lock-ins at Calvary Lutheran Church, Sunrise Services and Pancake Flipper for Easter Breakfast, Mystery Dinners, and whatever else Linda and Michael cooked up to help kids grow in faith and people flourish throughout his church. Ed is survived by his wife Linda, his sons, Edward Jr and Eric, his daughters-in-law Kristy and Jana, his five grandchildren, Sarah Stephanie Zachary Hannah and Abigail, and their spouses Ben, Joe, Alicia, AND ten great grandchildren (the last of which was just born on February 11th). He was a hospitable and loving dad, grandpa, husband and friend. He was a creative, effective, practical voice of reason for our family. He did his best he could at anything he set his mind to, often sacrificing much to help his whole family. He will likely greet us all in heaven with a “Get in here! I was just waiting for you to show up!!” … and then he will love to show us all just how God makes the heaven’s dance in their courses. As a family, we all want to extend a heartfelt special “Thank you!” to Joyce and John at the Sunnyside Adult Family Home who made the last two months of Ed’s life safe, happy and content. Linda couldn’t have done it without you. Memorial Service March 26, 2022 at 11 am First Baptist Church of Rocklin 5425 Coronado Way Rocklin CA 95692 Our family hopes you will join us as we share our love for the man who has given so much of himself for all of us.