GRIFFITH, John Melville
February 9, 1933 ~ May 27, 2016
John was born in Rumsey, in his Grandparents home, to Frederick and Isabel Griffith. He attended Price and Rumsey Schools and Red Deer College. After graduation he farmed with his family until a problem with hay fever required him to try out city life for a while and he moved to Calgary. Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company hired John into their warehouse and promoted him into their adjustment department and then into Sales. He married Laura Richmond June 29, 1957. They transferred to Medicine Hat in 1960 and decided that John had outgrown hay fever enough to return to the farm in 1962 when his father retired from farming. John was a member of the Rumsey Hall Board, Assistant Leader of the Rumsey-Rowley 4-H Beef Club, a member of the Rumsey Curling Club and Agricultural Society, President of the Rumsey History Book Committee (2nd edition), belonged to the United Church and was active in the Rumsey Rodeo Club. He coached a little league baseball team through their youth and into the men’s fastball league. John had enjoyed some golf and broomball and was especially fond of fishing and hunting. He loved working with draft and cattle horses and was very involved in Rumsey Trail Rides for STARS. John and Laura retired from farming and moved to Drumheller in 2011. John is survived by wife Laura, sons Dwain (Sherry) and Hal (Diana), daughter Connie (Derrick) Wilson, grandchildren Jonathan, Rachael (Michael) Frank, Deanne, Cayle, Dalan and Avril Wilson, great-granddaughter Ariel Frank, his dear sister Marie Hampton, nephews Stan (Wanda) and Neil Hampton, and numerous other cherished nieces and nephews. He is predeceased by his parents, and brothers in law Dawn Hampton and Tom and Leonard Richmond. Funeral services for John Griffith were held Tuesday, May 31, 2016 at 1:00 P.M. at the Rumsey Community Hall, a private family interment followed at the Rumsey Cemetery. If friends so desire memorial donations may be made to Drumheller Area Health Foundation (Palliative Care) or to S.T.A.R.S. Courtney-Winter’s Funeral Homes were in care of the arrangements.
