Herbert Wayne Griffin's Obituary
Monday, October 24, 2016, will forever be the saddest and the gladdest day of our lives, for that is the morning that Herbert Wayne Griffin, 67, lost his struggle with the vile kidney cancer, yet gained his entrance into Paradise with his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ! Herb, the best husband, father, son, brother, uncle ever, was born April 16, 1949, in Killeen, Texas, home of Fort Hood, to Elmer Eugene Griffin and Christine Kathrine Shirley Griffin and Big Brother Clifford Scott Griffin. He graduated from Killeen High School, home of the Mighty Kangaroos, in 1967, and from Stephen F Austin University with a BBA in 1971. He went to work in the Dallas area straight out of school for an insurance company. However, he did not enjoy working at a desk, and went back to what he knew, cutting meat, for Tom Thumb grocery. It wasn’t too many years before they realized he was manager material, and he was promoted to Market Manager, at first one store, then another and another, always turning the operation around into a profit center for the store. In 1987, he received a promotion to Supervisor over half of the Tom Thumb markets in Dallas, helping each manager learn how to make his market profitable. Unfortunately for Tom Thumb, he was downsized when Randall’s bought Tom Thumb and brought in their own supervisor. He then worked for Brookshire Brothers grocery for 5 years, then went back to Tom Thumb for 7 years. He married Anita Reed in 1970, and they had a son, Randall Wayne, in 1972. They divorced in 1974, and the Lord brought Sylvia Karyn Webb into his life shortly afterward. They married December 12, 1974. After a time of trying for a brother for Randy, the Lord brought David Joe into their home in 1977 at the age of 2 ½ years. Then, 1981, they learned that another miracle in the form of their third son was coming! Steven Gregory was born early 1982. The past twelve years has been the best for all our family. Son Randy, Certified Dental Technician, was driven to start his own dental lab, so he and Herb and brother Steven incorporated in 2004, and the family business was born in the proverbial garage!! We opened a real lab in January 2007, with wife Sylvia as a bookkeeper, and fourth partner Kevin Haston. Together, we all built Griffin Dental Lab Inc. into one of the largest Removable labs in the Dallas area, due to our insistence on quality products and prompt customer service. However, in 2014, Sylvia realized that she needed to turn over the books to son David, the son who had the accounting and finance education and experience. Thus the business included the whole family! Herb worked up until the cancer was found this July, and the pain forced him to retire. The lab will be closed for the first time ever without being a holiday this Friday, so all our employees may attend the funeral for the best boss ever! Visitation will be at Restland Funeral Home on Greenville Ave, Dallas, on Thursday, Oct. 27, from 6-8 pm. Services will be Friday, Oct 28, at 10:00 at United Disciples Christian Church, 601 E. Main St (Beltline), Richardson, led by Pastor Joe Harker. Immediately following the service, Herb will be laid to rest in the Masonic Section at Restland, then family and friends will return to the church for lunch. We joined this church when it was Western Heights Christian Church on Jupiter Rd in Garland, early 1977, then merged with First Christian Church, Richardson, in Oct. 2007. Herb has been an Elder in our church since the mid-1990’s. Those who desire may send memorials either to UDCC or to the Kidney Foundation. We do so appreciate the oncology team and the staff at UTSW Simmons Cancer Center and William P Clements Hospital for their loving care of our Herb. Herb was preceded by his parents in 1996 and 2000. He will be greatly missed by wife Sylvia, son Randy, and wife Marisa; son David; son Steven and wife Niki and their sons Caleb and Noah. Also by brother Scott and wife Ginger, of Katy TX, and their daughter Melissa, her husband Owen Hurt and their son Griffin and daughter Karsynn; and their son Jeff and wife Micah and their daughters Macy Rae and Tatum and son expected in January. Also by Sylvia’s brother Daniel Webb and wife Alice of Denton TX, their daughter Vanessa, and their son Taylor with wife Lauren and their son Lincoln in Boston MA. Also Sylvia’s brother Tom Webb of Chaparral NM, and his daughter Cathy of Sachse TX and her family. Herb was also much-loved by his church family, fishing buddies at Lake Ray Hubbard and many friends, coworkers and employees along the way. His love of fishing and hunting began as a child with his dad, brother, and cousins all around Bell County, TX. Not one to be effervescent, he could one-up with the best of kidders. Not tall like his brother, he was yet mighty in completing any task that he set his mind to, and he always had to be busy doing things around the house or preparing for the deer lease or a fishing trip. Everybody at Bass Pro knew him! His passing so early has left a gigantic hole in our hearts, yet he will always be with us, and we are comforted by the fact that we know he is finally out of the ever-increasing pain, and at home with the Lord. Praise be to our God in the sweet Name of Jesus!
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