Charles Bennett Griffin III

Nov. 18, 1941 – June 16, 2015

 

Charles Bennett Griffin III passed away peacefully at home surrounded by his family on Tuesday, June 16, 2015. Charlie was born on Nov. 18, 1941, in Ridley Park, Pa., and grew up in Bertie County, the elder son of Charles Bennett Griffin Jr. and Gertrude McCollum Griffin.

Funeral services will be held at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church in Washington, on Friday, June 19, 2015, at 2 p.m. The family will receive friends after the service at the Washington Country Club. The interment of ashes will be at a later date at Grace Episcopal Church in Woodville, N.C., near his family home.

Charlie was a graduate of Sewanee Military Academy and a graduate of the School of Engineering at North Carolina State University, where he was a member of the Kappa Alpha Order. He remained a long time supporter of the University and rarely missed a home football game. Shortly after graduation, he enlisted as a pilot in the U.S. Air Force and flew missions during the Vietnam War. After his military service, he began a 30-year career with Sonoco Products Company in Hartsville, S.C. He held various positions with Sonoco that lead him around the world, but his heart remained in eastern North Carolina.

After retirement, he settled in Washington for 15 years. Charlie was a faithful member of St. Peter’s Episcopal Church. He served on the Vestry for two terms as well as in various other positions. He was an active member and past president of the Washington (evening) Rotary Club, a past board member of the Washington Yacht and Country Club, and a past board member of the Pamlico Plantation Property Owners Association. He was a passionate member of Amigos for Christ, a group dedicated to mission work in Nicaragua and travelled on seven different mission trips. Charlie was an avid sportsman, outdoorsman and nature photographer. He was a founding member of the Mordecai Gun Club in Bertie County. He also loved Ocracoke and was a dedicated supporter of its Fire and Rescue services, in addition to other community projects on the island. Charlie’s was a life of action and purpose, dedicated to community service. He cherished his faith, his family and his friends.

Charlie is survived by his loving wife of 50 years, Marcia Sawyers Griffin and their three sons, Whitmel Hill Griffin, Edward Alexander Griffin and Charles Bennett Griffin IV, and their respective wives, Anne Weldon, Kippie and Helen. He also adored his seven grandchildren: Whit, Finley, Kruesi, Xander, Charlie, Ann West and Grier. He is also survived by his sister, Nancy Griffin Warren, her husband Bill and brother John McCollum Griffin, his wife Claudia, as well as many precious nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews.

In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to St. Peter’s Episcopal Church Building Fund, 101 North Bonner Street, Washington, NC 27889.

You may share a memory with the family and view Mr. Griffin’s memorial by visiting www.hillsidefuneralservice.com. Hillside Funeral Service & Cremations, 4500 U.S. Highway 264 E, Washington, NC, has been given the honor of being entrusted with serving the Griffin family.