Obituary of DeWitt Brown Griffis

Mr. DeWitt Brown Griffis, 91, of Mayfield, died Sunday morning, June 28, 2009 at Mountain Valley Hospice House surrounded by his daughter, son-in-law and hospice staff. He was born January 26, 1918 in Gloversville, the only child of Byron and Alice Teetz Griffis. He graduated from Gloversville High School in 1936 and the former Gloversville Business School. Prior to World War II he lived in Speculator where he worked in the woods and drove taxi. He served in the U.S. Navy in WWII on the USS Egeria in the South Pacific from 1943 to 1945. He received several medals. After the war he worked at Curtin-Hebert's and Fultonville Machine and Tool Company. He then began his own business as a television and radio repairman in the early 1950's. He continued until his retirement in 1983. He was a former member of the Gloversville Lions Club and the Mayfield Servicemen's Club and is a member of North Main Street United Methodist Church in Gloversville. On August 23, 1939 DeWitt married the former Grace Gabber. She predeceased him on December 10, 1986. He married Helen Barker on May 30, 1987. She predeceased him on June 16, 2008. He is survived by one daughter, Charlotte and her husband Kenneth Hoover of Gloversville; a grandson, DeWitt Hoover Lorraine of Raleigh, NC; a granddaughter, Grace Paster Aren of Ballston Spa; three great-grandsons, Ethan Paster, Andrew Paster and Garrett Hoover; a step-daughter, Beth Potter Larry and a step-son, William Barker Karen; step-grandchildren and step-great-grandchildren. Also surviving are a sister-in-law and two nieces. DeWitt enjoyed hunting, fishing, riding snowmobiles and motorcycles and running his beagles in earlier years. He especially enjoyed spending time at his camp in Speculator. He was very loving and caring to his family and got much enjoyment out of seeing his two grandchildren grow up. He was also thrilled at the arrival of each great-grandchild. He will be missed and never forgotten by his family and all who knew him. DeWitt's family extends sincere gratitude to the wonderful staff at Mountain Valley Hospice House for the terrific care and kindness given to him during his stay. The family will receive relatives and friends from 1 to 3 p.m. Wednesday at Walrath & Stewart Funeral Home, 51 Fremont Street, Gloversville, where a funeral service will follow at 3:00 p.m. with the Rev. David C. Newkirk officiating. Interment with military honors will take place at Union Rural Cemetery, Mayfield. Memorial contributions may be made in lieu of flowers to Mountain Valley Hospice, 108 Steele Avenue, Gloversville, NY 12078 or to the Mayfield Volunteer Fire Department, P.O. Box 722, Mayfield, NY 12117.