Obituaries: Dorsey Edwin Griffin

Dorsey Edwin Griffin was born March 9, 1920 in Spokane, Wash., the son of Edwin and Matilda Griffin. His father later moved the family to Prairie City to homestead land. He graduated from Prairie City High School in 1940 and served in New Guinea during World War II as a Tech 4 Radio repairman with the U.S. Army. He worked for the U.S. Forest Service in the Snoqualmie Mountains and for the Boeing Company in Seattle, Wash., for 13 years. He worked for Providence Hospital for 16 years before retiring in 1982.

Mr. Griffin changed his name after his mother’s death, to Patrick Augustine Griffin, which was the name he had chosen at his Catholic confirmation at age 25. His grave marker will read Patrick Augustine Griffin rather than his birth name.

He spent the past five years living with his daughter Brongaene and family when, at age 83, he became unable to live alone. He died in his sleep from natural causes, at age 87, in his daughter’s house on Feb. 4, 2008.

He is survived by eight of his nine children, Dennis Griffin, Brendan Griffin, Bernard Griffin, Marcia Hinsvark, Mary Griffin, Therresa Kennedy, Brongaene Griffin and Galen Griffin. He was preceded in death by his daughter Margaret Carver. Mr. Griffin also had eight grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

He is celebrated by his children as having been a most beloved father and their best friend. He was very happy to spend his last years in the company of his family. His two-year-old granddaughter Carly kissed him goodnight every night before bed and often sat on his lap for meal times. He will be terribly missed. His absence leaves a void in many lives.

A funeral Mass will be held Feb. 14, 2008 at 11 a.m. at Riverview Abbey, 0319 S.W. Taylors Ferry Road, Portland, Oregon. He will receive full military honors at Willamette National Cemetery, where he will be interred at 1:30 p.m. the same day.