John Hunter Griffin

John Hunter Griffin, age 96 of 9258 Charlotte Highway, passed away at his home with family by his side. Born 1921 in the Osceola Community of Lancaster County (what is now Steel Hill Road), he grew up on the farm and was the youngest of ten children. There were six boys and four girls, born to the late Joseph (Joe) W. and Ider Ashley Griffin.Mr. Griffin was preceded in death by his wife of 49 years, Helen Yarborough Griffin (1996). He is survived by his daughter, Gloria Griffin Barnes and her husband, Roger Barnes of Greer, S.C.; his granddaughter, Kelley Barnes Myrick, her husband Hugh Myrick and great-granddaughter, Olivia Parker Myrick of Charleston, S.C.; four nephews, William Talor Griffin of Kannapolis, N.C., Joe Howard Griffin and wife Mary Griffin, of Pineville, N.C., James Larry Helms of Fort Mill, S.C., and Johnny Craven Helms of Waxhaw, N.C.; six nieces, Enola Griffin Frendak of Florence, S.C., Reba Griffin Perry of Marietta. Ga., Joyce Griffin Ragon (Lloyd) of Pineville, N.C., Theresa Griffin Hardison (C.L.) of Fort Mill, S.C., Elizabeth McManus Dunn of Greensboro, N.C., Marsha Anne Griffin of Sylva, N.C., and Debra Helms Mayes of Fort Mill, S.C.John graduated from Indian Land High School in 1937. In 1942, he joined the Navy and finished his basic training at the Naval Training Center in Norfolk, Va. He was assigned to the U.S.S. Titania where her first mission was landing Sherman Tanks and crews at Safi, North Africa. On November 7th 1942, she returned to the states and was assigned to the amphibious force of the 7th Naval Fleet in the South Pacific. Their mission was to recapture various Japanese occupied islands. After returning to the States, he was honorably discharged in 1946. After the war he was employed by the U.S. Department of Defense as a quality assurance representative for 33 years, retiring in 1979.John enjoyed his retirement years by gardening, working in the yard, hunting and fishing. He always found time to work around the church, especially the cemetery. He was the last surviving charter member of Osceola United Methodist Church and had a great love and devotion for the church and its members. He visited the church shut-ins weekly for about twenty years. He was a member and past-master of Indian Land Masonic Lodge. John was also a member of the Scottish Rite of Masonry and a past-patron of the Indian Land Eastern Star. He enjoyed meeting new friends. One of his most cherished gifts was becoming a lifetime charter member of the World War II National Memorial in Washington, which he visited in 2005. He leaves behind in God’s care, a host of faithful friends he made during his journey here of 96 years.Mr. Griffin will lay in state from Noon to 12:45 p.m. on Monday, August 7, 2017 at Osceola United Methodist, 6575 Charlotte Highway (Hwy. 521) Lancaster, S.C. The funeral will follow at 1 p.m. with the Rev. Mallory Forte officiating. Burial will be at the church cemetery. The family will receive friends immediately following the service in the fellowship hall.In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Osceola U.M.C.Read Obituary