Ben Griffith

Ben Doyle Griffith, Sr., 91, of St. Albans passed away Thursday, November 15, 2012 at his home with his family by his side. Born August 25, 1921 in St. Albans, Ben was a son of the late Delafield D. and Mary Meadows Griffith. He was a lifelong resident of St. Albans, a veteran of WWII and served in the ETO (European Theatre) as a Sgt. with the 211th Chemical Maintenance Company in the US Army. Ben was the last of the first paid firemen of the St. Albans Fire Dept. He was a retired electrician, a member of Local 466 I.B.E.W. of Charleston, WV, a retired realtor, and an insurance agent for both Commonwealth Life Insurance Co. (CLICO) and American National Insurance Co. (ANICO). Ben is survived by wife Wilda (Williams) of St. Albans, three sons, Ben D. II (Nancy), Richard (Kellie), Robert (Patti), two daughters, Joyce Angus (Douglas), and Janet Lynn Griffith. Preceded in death by oldest son, Ben D Griffith, Jr. (Gail) of Gainesville, FL, total of 15 grandchildren, 1 deceased, 2 step, 16 Great-Grandchildren, (1 step), and 4 Great-Great-Grandchildren, numerous nieces and nephews and daughter-in-law, Janette Hammond. A special thank you to his niece Jodie Jividen for her help and love down to the very last. We also appreciate the thoughtfulness and help of Pat Hanson and Drema Walters. The Griffith family would like to extend special thanks and appreciation for their dedication to the staff and nurses of Kanawha Hospice: Lynese Danford, Amber Blevins, Beth Plantz, Carla Z., Joan Carroll, Pete Thompson, Chaplain, Pat Taylor, Michelle Morgan, Heidi Graley, Carol Matheny, Elaine Harrison and other staff members from 2010 to 2011, when Ben was also under care of Hospice; also to the staff and nurses of AmediSys: Debbie Johnson Wheeler, Becky Lilly, Angie Voelk, Eul Albis, Kenny Stowers, Krystal Farley, and Connie Hill. Thank you all for your love and special care of our dad and husband. Interment will be held at 1:00 pm Tuesday, November 20, 2012 at Donel C. Kinnard Memorial State Veterans Cemetery, Dunbar with military honors. Celebration of life will be held from 6-8 pm Monday at Bartlett-Chapman Funeral Home, 409 Sixth Avenue, St. Albans. Casual dress perferred