Obituary for Norwood Glenn "Griff" Griffin
Norwood Glenn Griffin, age 95, died on February 22, 2021, at Northwest Hospital in Randallstown, Maryland. He was the husband of Gladys Griffin (deceased) for fifty-two years and the longtime friend and companion of Louise Spedden for twenty-three years. Born on March 30, 1925, in Parkton, Maryland to Norman and Nina Griffin, he called the Baltimore area his home for his entire life, and served the Randallstown community for over sixty years.
Leaving his work on a farm at the age of eighteen, he began active duty in the United States Army and served therein from 1943 to 1946. During that time, he bravely fought in the European Theater of World War II, seeing combat in the Rome-Arno Campaign, the Rhineland Offensive, and the Central Europe Campaign. For a brief time, he was captured by German forces as a prisoner of war until he, and fellow soldiers, successfully escaped and rejoined U.S. Army forces.
After the end of the war and his honorable discharge from the military, he returned home and married Gladys Griffin, née Eisner. In 1954, he opened Griffin’s Crown Service Station, a gas station and automotive repair business on Liberty Road in Randallstown that, sixty-seven years later, is still in operation. Griffin’s Crown later changed names to Griffin’s Arco and then to Griffin’s Shell. Today, the residents of Randallstown and neighboring communities recognize the venerable and longstanding Griffin’s Service Center on the corner of Liberty Road and Brenbrook Drive, where Norwood Griffin’s sons, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren continue his goal of serving the community.
He was a lover of cars and racing, both driving and spectating. His love for travel took him on road trips to the farthest reaches of the United States, from the cold mountains of Alaska to the sunny shores of Florida. In his spare time, he enjoyed cutting down trees and splitting firewood for his family, an activity that he continued well into his nineties. He taught those around him, through both word and deed, the value and importance of hard work and love for family. Through Norwood Griffin, our gracious Lord Jesus Christ has blessed generation after generation of family, friends, and neighbors. May a hundred years from now, his descendants still remember his name and praise God for him.
Devoted husband. Loving father. Friend and neighbor to all. He was truly of The Greatest Generation.
Norwood Griffin is survived by his sons Stanley (Christina) Griffin, Douglas Griffin, and Gary Griffin; his daughter Rita (Eric) Clarke; his nine grandchildren, and twelve great-grandchildren.
Those desiring may make contributions to Faith Lutheran Church 1700 St. Andrews Way Eldersburg, MD 21784
Leaving his work on a farm at the age of eighteen, he began active duty in the United States Army and served therein from 1943 to 1946. During that time, he bravely fought in the European Theater of World War II, seeing combat in the Rome-Arno Campaign, the Rhineland Offensive, and the Central Europe Campaign. For a brief time, he was captured by German forces as a prisoner of war until he, and fellow soldiers, successfully escaped and rejoined U.S. Army forces.
After the end of the war and his honorable discharge from the military, he returned home and married Gladys Griffin, née Eisner. In 1954, he opened Griffin’s Crown Service Station, a gas station and automotive repair business on Liberty Road in Randallstown that, sixty-seven years later, is still in operation. Griffin’s Crown later changed names to Griffin’s Arco and then to Griffin’s Shell. Today, the residents of Randallstown and neighboring communities recognize the venerable and longstanding Griffin’s Service Center on the corner of Liberty Road and Brenbrook Drive, where Norwood Griffin’s sons, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren continue his goal of serving the community.
He was a lover of cars and racing, both driving and spectating. His love for travel took him on road trips to the farthest reaches of the United States, from the cold mountains of Alaska to the sunny shores of Florida. In his spare time, he enjoyed cutting down trees and splitting firewood for his family, an activity that he continued well into his nineties. He taught those around him, through both word and deed, the value and importance of hard work and love for family. Through Norwood Griffin, our gracious Lord Jesus Christ has blessed generation after generation of family, friends, and neighbors. May a hundred years from now, his descendants still remember his name and praise God for him.
Devoted husband. Loving father. Friend and neighbor to all. He was truly of The Greatest Generation.
Norwood Griffin is survived by his sons Stanley (Christina) Griffin, Douglas Griffin, and Gary Griffin; his daughter Rita (Eric) Clarke; his nine grandchildren, and twelve great-grandchildren.
Those desiring may make contributions to Faith Lutheran Church 1700 St. Andrews Way Eldersburg, MD 21784