Griffith, Donald "Ike" 1920-2006

GRIFFITH, DAVENPORT, CUMMINGS, GILLS, HESS

Posted By: Marilyn Holmes (email)
Date: 4/22/2010 at 08:06:57

Brooklyn Chronicle (Brooklyn, Iowa) April 2006

DONALD "IKE" GRIFFITH, 85

Donald "Ike" Griffith, 85, of Grinnell and formerly of Malcom, died Saturday, April 1, 2006, at St. Francis Manor in Grinnell.

A funeral service was held at 10:30 a.m., Tuesday, April 4, at the Smith Funeral Home with Rev. John Epperson officiating. Casket bearers were Nate Benesh, Marty Cummings, Daryl Hall, Rod Robey, Dennis Scott and Jack Tuttle. Honorary bearers were Leo Altemeier, Marvin Beck, Gary Brower and Carl Merical. Interment was at Ivy Hill Cemetery in Malcom with military rites provided by the Montezuma Veterans Ceremonial Unit.

Memorials may be directed to the Malcom Fire Department. Online condolences may be submitted to the Griffith family on the Smith Funeral Home website.

Donald was born the son of Floyd and Lula Davenport Griffith on Oct. 18, 1920, near Winslow, Ind. The family moved to Malcom, where he was raised and educated.

Donald was a United States Navy electrician's mate during World War II. He was honorably discharged from his active duty on Jan. 4, 1946, at the United States Navy personnel separation center in Minneapolis, Minn.

Donald was married to Ella Mae Cummings in 1946 in Malcom and to this union three children were born, Roger, Judy and Brett. The couple lived in Malcom, where Donald operated a trucking company. For thirty years he shelled corn in the Malcom area. The couple divorced in the late 1970s.

Donald enjoyed being outdoors hunting, fishing and tending to his garden. He traveled to Las Vegas, where he enjoyed gambling. He was a long-standing member of the Montezuma American Legion.

Donald is survived by his sons, Roger (Patty) Griffith, and Brett "Butch" (Ellen) Griffith, both of Malcom; eight grandchildren; eighteen great-grandchildren; his brother Dale (Ann) Griffith of Dallas, Texas; and his sister-in-law, Frances Griffith of Brooklyn, Iowa.

Donald was preceded in death by his parents; his former wife, Ella Mae; his daughters, Sheryl, who died in infancy, and Judy Gills; his granddaughter, Dawn Griffith; his brothers, Fred and Herchel; and his longtime companion, Faith Hess.