Charles R. "Charlie" Griffith
Charles R. "Charlie" Griffith, 90, died Friday, December 17, 2021, at Bethesda Dilworth following a period of physical decline.
He leaves his beloved wife of nearly 57 years, Nannelle (Stevenson) Griffith; his daughter, Ruth Marie Griffith (Leigh Schmidt); three grandchildren, Zachary, Ella, and Jasper Schmidt; brother-in-law David Litton; several nieces and nephews; and many dear friends spanning the stages of his life.
Charlie was born in Rome, Georgia, and raised in Knoxville, Tennessee, the son of Charles R. and Maude Leigh (Oglesby) Griffith and the prankish big brother of Sarah Louise and Donna Leigh, all of whom preceded him in death. He graduated from Baylor School and the University of Tennessee, where he excelled academically and athletically and served in many leadership positions. He spent two years in the army before settling on Signal Mountain near Chattanooga, where he and Nannelle lived for more than fifty years before moving to St. Louis in 2011 to be near Marie and family. He was a member of First Baptist Church Chattanooga for 45 years and most recently belonged to First Congregational Church of Webster Groves.
Everyone who knew Charlie will remember his kindness, humor, and generosity. He took Nannelle to every crafts fair she wanted to go to (which was all of them, he would tell you) and transported her on many a sightseeing ride. He could never so much as raise his voice at Marie growing up, even when he definitely should have. He had a special love for children and taught Sunday School to first graders for years before shifting to young adults. He also tutored kids in both math and reading and served for many years as a board member of the Children's Home/Chambliss Center. He was known for honesty and a daunting work ethic, which carried him through 37 years at Provident Life & Accident Company. Cardiac arrest at age 59 resulted in early retirement from his position as Senior VP, along with the installation of the first of four pacemakers that kept his heart beating 30 more years. We thank the cardiologists and other professionals who extended his life for so long, despite his refusal to exercise or eat green vegetables. We also thank the dedicated nursing staff at Bethesda Dilworth and Bethesda Hospice who cared for both him and us in his final months.
Charlie loved to take road trips throughout North America. He treasured the beaches of the Eastern Seaboard and the national park system, above all the Great Smoky Mountains, Yellowstone, and Grand Teton. Some of our fondest memories are travels with him to those places as well as to Florida, Hilton Head, Banff, the Adirondacks, Newfoundland, and Maine. He was an avid reader of many genres and a lover of history, and he always wanted to talk about the latest book he was reading. Charlie was also an enthusiastic golfer while mobility allowed. A fervent fan of the Tennessee Volunteers, he wore a lot of orange and never missed a football or basketball game without good reason. Books and sports paled in comparison, however, to the joy he found in his grandchildren.
Charlie's chief love was his family, and we will never stop missing him or seeking to honor him. A humble man of deep faith, he lived his life attempting quietly and without fanfare to follow Jesus's mandate to care for others. In that spirit, memorial donations may be made to First Baptist Church Chattanooga, First Congregational Church of Webster Groves, or the Bethesda Health Group Foundation.
A memorial service will be held at a later date in Chattanooga, followed by burial in Chattanooga National Cemetery.
Charles R. "Charlie" Griffith, 90, died Friday, December 17, 2021, at Bethesda Dilworth following a period of physical decline.
He leaves his beloved wife of nearly 57 years, Nannelle (Stevenson) Griffith; his daughter, Ruth Marie Griffith (Leigh Schmidt); three grandchildren, Zachary, Ella, and Jasper Schmidt; brother-in-law David Litton; several nieces and nephews; and many dear friends spanning the stages of his life.
Charlie was born in Rome, Georgia, and raised in Knoxville, Tennessee, the son of Charles R. and Maude Leigh (Oglesby) Griffith and the prankish big brother of Sarah Louise and Donna Leigh, all of whom preceded him in death. He graduated from Baylor School and the University of Tennessee, where he excelled academically and athletically and served in many leadership positions. He spent two years in the army before settling on Signal Mountain near Chattanooga, where he and Nannelle lived for more than fifty years before moving to St. Louis in 2011 to be near Marie and family. He was a member of First Baptist Church Chattanooga for 45 years and most recently belonged to First Congregational Church of Webster Groves.
Everyone who knew Charlie will remember his kindness, humor, and generosity. He took Nannelle to every crafts fair she wanted to go to (which was all of them, he would tell you) and transported her on many a sightseeing ride. He could never so much as raise his voice at Marie growing up, even when he definitely should have. He had a special love for children and taught Sunday School to first graders for years before shifting to young adults. He also tutored kids in both math and reading and served for many years as a board member of the Children's Home/Chambliss Center. He was known for honesty and a daunting work ethic, which carried him through 37 years at Provident Life & Accident Company. Cardiac arrest at age 59 resulted in early retirement from his position as Senior VP, along with the installation of the first of four pacemakers that kept his heart beating 30 more years. We thank the cardiologists and other professionals who extended his life for so long, despite his refusal to exercise or eat green vegetables. We also thank the dedicated nursing staff at Bethesda Dilworth and Bethesda Hospice who cared for both him and us in his final months.
Charlie loved to take road trips throughout North America. He treasured the beaches of the Eastern Seaboard and the national park system, above all the Great Smoky Mountains, Yellowstone, and Grand Teton. Some of our fondest memories are travels with him to those places as well as to Florida, Hilton Head, Banff, the Adirondacks, Newfoundland, and Maine. He was an avid reader of many genres and a lover of history, and he always wanted to talk about the latest book he was reading. Charlie was also an enthusiastic golfer while mobility allowed. A fervent fan of the Tennessee Volunteers, he wore a lot of orange and never missed a football or basketball game without good reason. Books and sports paled in comparison, however, to the joy he found in his grandchildren.
Charlie's chief love was his family, and we will never stop missing him or seeking to honor him. A humble man of deep faith, he lived his life attempting quietly and without fanfare to follow Jesus's mandate to care for others. In that spirit, memorial donations may be made to First Baptist Church Chattanooga, First Congregational Church of Webster Groves, or the Bethesda Health Group Foundation.
A memorial service will be held at a later date in Chattanooga, followed by burial in Chattanooga National Cemetery.
Charles R. "Charlie" Griffith
Charles R. "Charlie" Griffith, 90, died Friday, December 17, 2021, at Bethesda Dilworth following a period of physical decline.
He leaves his beloved wife of nearly 57 years, Nannelle (Stevenson) Griffith; his daughter, Ruth Marie Griffith (Leigh Schmidt); three grandchildren, Zachary, Ella, and Jasper Schmidt; brother-in-law David Litton; several nieces and nephews; and many dear friends spanning the stages of his life.
Charlie was born in Rome, Georgia, and raised in Knoxville, Tennessee, the son of Charles R. and Maude Leigh (Oglesby) Griffith and the prankish big brother of Sarah Louise and Donna Leigh, all of whom preceded him in death. He graduated from Baylor School and the University of Tennessee, where he excelled academically and athletically and served in many leadership positions. He spent two years in the army before settling on Signal Mountain near Chattanooga, where he and Nannelle lived for more than fifty years before moving to St. Louis in 2011 to be near Marie and family. He was a member of First Baptist Church Chattanooga for 45 years and most recently belonged to First Congregational Church of Webster Groves.
Everyone who knew Charlie will remember his kindness, humor, and generosity. He took Nannelle to every crafts fair she wanted to go to (which was all of them, he would tell you) and transported her on many a sightseeing ride. He could never so much as raise his voice at Marie growing up, even when he definitely should have. He had a special love for children and taught Sunday School to first graders for years before shifting to young adults. He also tutored kids in both math and reading and served for many years as a board member of the Children's Home/Chambliss Center. He was known for honesty and a daunting work ethic, which carried him through 37 years at Provident Life & Accident Company. Cardiac arrest at age 59 resulted in early retirement from his position as Senior VP, along with the installation of the first of four pacemakers that kept his heart beating 30 more years. We thank the cardiologists and other professionals who extended his life for so long, despite his refusal to exercise or eat green vegetables. We also thank the dedicated nursing staff at Bethesda Dilworth and Bethesda Hospice who cared for both him and us in his final months.
Charlie loved to take road trips throughout North America. He treasured the beaches of the Eastern Seaboard and the national park system, above all the Great Smoky Mountains, Yellowstone, and Grand Teton. Some of our fondest memories are travels with him to those places as well as to Florida, Hilton Head, Banff, the Adirondacks, Newfoundland, and Maine. He was an avid reader of many genres and a lover of history, and he always wanted to talk about the latest book he was reading. Charlie was also an enthusiastic golfer while mobility allowed. A fervent fan of the Tennessee Volunteers, he wore a lot of orange and never missed a football or basketball game without good reason. Books and sports paled in comparison, however, to the joy he found in his grandchildren.
Charlie's chief love was his family, and we will never stop missing him or seeking to honor him. A humble man of deep faith, he lived his life attempting quietly and without fanfare to follow Jesus's mandate to care for others. In that spirit, memorial donations may be made to First Baptist Church Chattanooga, First Congregational Church of Webster Groves, or the Bethesda Health Group Foundation.
A memorial service will be held at a later date in Chattanooga, followed by burial in Chattanooga National Cemetery.
Charles R. "Charlie" Griffith, 90, died Friday, December 17, 2021, at Bethesda Dilworth following a period of physical decline.
He leaves his beloved wife of nearly 57 years, Nannelle (Stevenson) Griffith; his daughter, Ruth Marie Griffith (Leigh Schmidt); three grandchildren, Zachary, Ella, and Jasper Schmidt; brother-in-law David Litton; several nieces and nephews; and many dear friends spanning the stages of his life.
Charlie was born in Rome, Georgia, and raised in Knoxville, Tennessee, the son of Charles R. and Maude Leigh (Oglesby) Griffith and the prankish big brother of Sarah Louise and Donna Leigh, all of whom preceded him in death. He graduated from Baylor School and the University of Tennessee, where he excelled academically and athletically and served in many leadership positions. He spent two years in the army before settling on Signal Mountain near Chattanooga, where he and Nannelle lived for more than fifty years before moving to St. Louis in 2011 to be near Marie and family. He was a member of First Baptist Church Chattanooga for 45 years and most recently belonged to First Congregational Church of Webster Groves.
Everyone who knew Charlie will remember his kindness, humor, and generosity. He took Nannelle to every crafts fair she wanted to go to (which was all of them, he would tell you) and transported her on many a sightseeing ride. He could never so much as raise his voice at Marie growing up, even when he definitely should have. He had a special love for children and taught Sunday School to first graders for years before shifting to young adults. He also tutored kids in both math and reading and served for many years as a board member of the Children's Home/Chambliss Center. He was known for honesty and a daunting work ethic, which carried him through 37 years at Provident Life & Accident Company. Cardiac arrest at age 59 resulted in early retirement from his position as Senior VP, along with the installation of the first of four pacemakers that kept his heart beating 30 more years. We thank the cardiologists and other professionals who extended his life for so long, despite his refusal to exercise or eat green vegetables. We also thank the dedicated nursing staff at Bethesda Dilworth and Bethesda Hospice who cared for both him and us in his final months.
Charlie loved to take road trips throughout North America. He treasured the beaches of the Eastern Seaboard and the national park system, above all the Great Smoky Mountains, Yellowstone, and Grand Teton. Some of our fondest memories are travels with him to those places as well as to Florida, Hilton Head, Banff, the Adirondacks, Newfoundland, and Maine. He was an avid reader of many genres and a lover of history, and he always wanted to talk about the latest book he was reading. Charlie was also an enthusiastic golfer while mobility allowed. A fervent fan of the Tennessee Volunteers, he wore a lot of orange and never missed a football or basketball game without good reason. Books and sports paled in comparison, however, to the joy he found in his grandchildren.
Charlie's chief love was his family, and we will never stop missing him or seeking to honor him. A humble man of deep faith, he lived his life attempting quietly and without fanfare to follow Jesus's mandate to care for others. In that spirit, memorial donations may be made to First Baptist Church Chattanooga, First Congregational Church of Webster Groves, or the Bethesda Health Group Foundation.
A memorial service will be held at a later date in Chattanooga, followed by burial in Chattanooga National Cemetery.
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