Rev. William George “Bill,” Griffth, Sr.entered into God’s eternal care June 3, 2014.
Born Dec. 16, 1930, in Johnstown, he was the son of the late John James Griffith and Grace Fidelis (Hammers) Griffith. He was preceded in death by siblings, John Francis Griffith, Robert Wesley Griffith, Richard Lawrence Griffith, Katherine Elizabeth Fuller, Phyllis Virginia Reese Fuller and Betty Grace Lamison.
He is survived by his loving wife Thelma Lou (Dunn) Griffith of Upper Yoder Township, to whom he was married to for 61 years; children, the Rev. William Jr., married to Debra (Fidler) Griffith; Cynthia (Griffith) Stahl, married to John Stahl; Susan (Griffith) Babik, married to Gregory Babik, all of Johnstown; and the Rev. Mark, married to the Rev. Doreen (Sterner) Griffith of Manns Choice; beloved grandchildren, Julie (Stahl), and husband, Brian Nagle; Adam, and wife, Jacqueline (Fabry) Stahl; David Griffith; Elizabeth (Griffith) Schlegel, and husband, Jonathan; Matthew Lindsey; Luke Lindsey; and Allison Griffith; great-grandchildren, Zoe, Brody and Izaak Nagle; and brother, Donald Edward Griffith, and wife, Colleen of Butte, Mont.
William was a loving husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather and will be sadly missed by all, including his beloved dog, Samson. He was an avid traveler and enjoyed his numerous visits to Israel as a tour guide.
William was a retired United Methodist minister and served many charges in the Western Pennsylvania Conference. Beginning as a part-time local pastor in 1977 at Mount Olive UMC in Johnstown, he also served with Human Services of Johnstown until 1983. He served charges in hte Johnstown area until 1996, when retired from Purchase Line UMC. In retirement, he began serving Wilmore/Lilly charge, then moved to the United for God Charge, serving until 2011.
He was a U.S. Army veteran of the Korean War, having been stationed in Germany.
Friends were received at John Henderson Co. Funeral Home, where a funeral service was held June 6 with Johnstown District Superintendent, Alyce Weaver Dunn, officiating. Interment was in Grandview Cemetery.