Gordon Griffith

On Jan. 23, 2008, the kind and gentle soul of Gordon Lamar Griffith, 86 years of age, was taken by his Lord as a result of a short illness and its complications. Gordon was born Oct. 12, 1921, in Bogue, Kan., to Orville Whitney Griffith and Maude Lewis Griffith and was the third eldest of four brothers, Orville, Robert and Warren. Gordon married Nelda LoRae Worcester on Nov. 26, 1941, in Manhattan, Kan., and shared with her almost 65 years of love, devotion to family and service to their Lord. Upon retirement in 1985, they moved from New Concord, Ohio, to Fort Collins where Gordon enjoyed hiking, fishing, golf, bridge, travel and his Kiwanis activities. Gordon was a longtime active member of The First Presbyterian Church were he served as a Deacon, an Elder and on many committees. Gordon graduated from Kansas State University in 1943 with a bachelor of science degree in physics and from the University of Illinois in 1950 with a Ph.D. in physics. His professional career included working on the Manhattan Project in Oak Ridge, Tenn., during World War II, working for the Westinghouse Research Laboratories in Pittsburgh, Pa., as a nuclear research physicist exploring fission energy development and containment, and from 1962 through his retirement in 1985 as a professor on the physics faculty and later as head of the physics department at Muskingum College in New Concord, Ohio. Upon retirement, he was awarded professor emeritus status. Gordon was preceded in death by his loving wife and companion of 65 years, Nelda, who passed away Oct. 2, 2006. Gordon is survived by his two children, daughter Michele Warner of Rocky Mount, N.C.; and son, Michael Griffith and wife Ann of Fort Collins; his five grandchildren, Kristin Leggett and husband Warren of Louisville, Ky.; Jason Harrold and wife Audra of Rocky Mount, N.C.; Megan Latham and husband Chris of Morehead City, N.C.; Colleen Boyarko and husband George of Albuquerque, N.M., and Benjamin Griffith and wife Kelley of New Castle; and by his nine great-grandchildren, Hannah, Caroline and Ethan Leggett, Emerson and Dalton Harrold, Jackson Latham, Andrew Boyarko, Steven and Erin Griffith. Gordon was preceded in death by both of his parents and two of his brothers. Gordon was a sensitive, gracious, loving and caring husband, father and mentor who will be greatly missed by all of his family and friends, but whose legacy of kindness, caring and integrity will live on through all he touched. Cremation has been completed and a celebration of Gordon's life will be at 3 p.m. Sunday at The First Presbyterian Church on College Avenue. The Rev. Scott Herr will officiate at the service. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to The Pamela Hill Griffith Scholarship Fund through CSU. Friends may send condolences to the family at www.bohlenderfuneralchapel.com .