Harry Griffin

Funeral services for Lt Col Harry Griffin USAF, Ret., age 93 of Cookeville, will be held Thursday, March 19th at 1 p.m. in the Cookeville Chapel of Hooper-Huddleston & Horner Funeral Home. Interment, with Military Honors, will follow in Crest Lawn Cemetery. Rev. Charles Hutchinson will officiate. Harry's family will receive friends Wednesday evening from 4 p.m. until 7 p.m. and again Thursday from 12 noon until service time at the funeral home. Mr. Griffin died Friday evening, March 13, 2015 at his residence. Harry was born in Marshall, Texas on June 30, 1921. His family moved to Olla, Louisiana where he grew up with his brother Jack, and his two sisters, Mary Frances and Charles Dena. He joined the U.S. Civilian Conservation Corp in 1938 and served for two years. He then joined the Army Air Corp and was assigned to the 69th Bombardment Squadron. Harry served in the Pacific during the Second World War. He always felt that the time he spent in the CCC "gave him a leg up" on the other men in his unit and he quickly rose to the rank of first Lieutenant. He served at many Air Bases during his years of service in the Air Force. Harry was stationed at Rhein Main Airbase during the Berlin Airlift. He served as Squadron Commander of several Air Police Squadrons during his career including Commander of 1608 Air Police Squadron. His last assignment was as the Commander of Security and Law Enforcement at Wright Patterson Air Base, Ohio during the Cuban Missile Crisis. He met Marie Brady of Sparta, TN and they were married February 8, 1946 in Sparta. They had three daughters, Sarah, Suzanne, and Jane. He retired from the Air Force on November 30, 1963 and moved to Cookeville, and Harry enrolled at Tennessee Tech. He received his BS Degree from Tennessee Tech in 1965 and went on to get his MA degree in 1968. The family moved to Staunton, VA and Harry taught History at college there until he retired from teaching in 1986. The family moved back to Cookeville to enjoy their retirement. His first wife, Marie died in June of 2001. They had been married 55 years. He married his second wife, Jean Mizell Forbeck in July of 2002. Harry loved roses and at one time had over 100 bushes. His roses won Blue and Red ribbons at the County Fair. Friends knew that when they needed a centerpiece that Harry would provide from his many bushes. He was co-founder and Past President of the Upper Cumberland Chapter of the Retired Officers Association. He served as President of the Retired Teachers Association of Putnam County and was a long time member of the Rotary Club of Cookeville (Noonday). Harry was as member of the First United Methodist Church, past president of the Backsliders Sunday School Class, and Past President of Senior neighbors. He enjoyed teaching the scriptures and taught classes while he was in the Air Force and was a long time teacher at the Methodist Church in Staunton, VA. He is survived by his wife Jean Mizell Griffin; three daughters, Sarah (Bill) Pellett of Lake Panasoffkee, FL, Suzanne (Dan) Sutphen of Dublin, OH, and Jane Berlin of Columbus, OH; five grandchildren, John (Suzanne) Ridings, Rhett Ridings, Harry (Jennifer) Sutphen, Hillary (G. R.) Davis, and Hayley Sutphen; seven great grandchildren; and two sisters, Mary Frances Glaze of Groves, TX, and Charlie Dena (Barry) Pitchfork of Merritt Island, WA. Harry had a good life, he enjoyed his family, the service that he gave to his country and his service to his loving Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Honorary pallbearers are: Dan Sutphen, Harry Sutphen, John Ridings, Rhett Ridings, G R Davis and the Backsliders S.S. Class.