William Griffin

William "Bill" Lapsley Griffin, Sr., 92, of Brevard, formerly of Asheville, NC, passed away on January 30, 2016 at Transylvania Regional Hospital. Born in Little Rock, Arkansas, he was the son of Given E. Griffin and Martha Lapsley Griffin. He was preceded in death by his loving wife of 67 years, Jeanne H. Griffin and his sister, Aylett Griffin Irving.

Bill grew up in Asheville and attended Lee Edwards High School. He then attended NC State University before enlisting in the Army Air Corps during World War II. He served as a combat pilot in the Southwest Pacific flying over 50 low-level bomber missions in a B-25 medium bomber. As a member of the 38th Bomb Group 5th Air Force, he participated in campaigns in the Northern Solomons, New Guinea, Luzon, Leyte, Southern Philippines and China Coast. His group received four Distinguished Unit Citations and lost 139 B-25's and lost 442 killed. He received the Air Medal for distinguished flying. His dramatic war experience greatly affected him and he never forgot those who did not return home. When he returned from the war he attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and studied business. He was a member of the Kappa Sigma Fraternity. He worked in the food industry for Lance Inc. for 40 years. He married Ella Jeanne Hardee in 1948. Jeanne and Bill fell in love on the day they met and were always inseparable. They resided in Asheville until recently moving to Brevard. They were dedicated members of Westminster Presbyterian Church where he served as a Deacon and Elder. Bill's greatest joy in life was his family. He loved them unconditionally. In his retirement he served the Golden K Kiwanis and was proud to provide support for their educational program. Bill enjoyed playing golf and won Buncombe County and Western NC Senior Championships. He was the original designer of the Western NC Veteran's War Memorial in Asheville. His design of a woman reading a letter from her loved one, in recognition of those who feared or lost their loved ones in war, was very meaningful to him. He authored a novel, Nothing is Forever, based on his war experiences.

Bill is survived by his children: William "Bill" Lapsley Griffin, Jr. and wife Lynne of Henderson, NC, Andrew "Drew" Hardee Griffin and wife Celia of Florence, SC, Kathleen "Kady" Griffin Hendrix and husband Ty, of Brevard; his grandchildren, Elizabeth Griffin Moore and husband Clint of Florence, SC, Mary Griffin, Bill Hendrix, and Jack Hendrix; his great-granddaughter, Aylett Moore; his brother Richard Griffin and wife Alice of Asheville; their children, Richard and wife Lynne Griffin of Frederick, MD, Aylett Burchfiel and husband Eddie of Asheville, NC, Todd Griffin and Stephanie of Raleigh, Abigail Griffin and husband Rees Perry of Asheville; and his nephews and nieces. Trooper Irving and wife Barbara of Canyon Lake, TX, William Stowe Jr, Glen Stowe and wife Mary, Jane Stowe McDade, all of Charlotte, and Beth and Keith Hale of Winston-Salem, NC.

Services for William Griffin will be at 12:00 noon on Friday, February 12, 2016 at the Western North Carolina Veterans Chapel and Cemetery in Black Mountain, NC.
The family requests that in lieu of flowers memorial donations be made to Eblen Charities at eblencharities.org or by calling 828-255-3066.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.moore-fh.com .
Moore Funeral Home & Cremation Services is serving the family.