Gary G. Griffin

BRANDON - Gary Glen Griffin, age 67; deacon at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Brandon, died Monday, November 30, 2015, at Rutland Regional Medical Center.
Mr. Griffin was born in Newport on May 5, 1948. He was the son of Glendon and Irene Aubin Griffin. He grew up in Newport, where he received his early education. Later, he attended Rice High School in Burlington.
As a working father and husband, he earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Business, graduating Magna cum Laude from the College of St. Joseph.
Gary joined the United States Army in August of 1967 and served two tours in Vietnam as a Helicopter Repairman on a Huey helicopter. Among his numerous military decorations are the Bronze Star, the Air Medal and the Army Commendation Medal.
Following his honorable discharge from active duty, he returned to Vermont. Later, he re-enlisted in the Army National Guard, retiring following 20 years of service as a Master Sergeant.
Gary moved to Brandon with his family in 1977, coming from Fort Bliss, Texas. He was the Test and Manufacturing Manager at Brandon Coils for several years. Afterwards, he joined the staff at Time Zero, in Clifton, NJ, as the New England Manufacturing Sales Representative. Later, he accepted a job at Simmons Precision as the Quality Assurance Specialist for defense contract services.
He continued working for Simmons in various positions after it transitioned to the Goodrich Corporation, culminating as the Director of Information Technology.
Gary served as a deacon of St. Mary's Catholic Church in Brandon for over 16 years. When not serving the community, he was often found on the Neshobe Golf Course, fishing the streams of Vermont or tackling computer challenges for acquaintances. But his greatest passion was his family, whom he dearly loved.
Surviving is his wife, Jeannine McDuff Griffin of Brandon, whom he married in St. James Church in Island Pond on October 16, 1971; his daughter, Elaine M. Dailey, and her husband, Whitman, of Fairborn, OH; and two sons Gregory G. Griffin and his wife, Camille, of Arlington, VA, and Mark E. Griffin and his wife, Emily, of Grand Prairie, TX; and his grandsons Griffin Dailey and Seamus Dailey. He was predeceased by his parents and a sister, Gladys Griffin.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Saturday, December 5, 2015, at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Brandon. The Most Reverend Christopher Coyne, bishop of the Diocese of Burlington will be the celebrant.
Following the ceremony, the family will receive friends at Brandon American Legion Post #55, for a time of remembrance. A private graveside committal service and burial will take place on Monday, December 7, in the family lot, at St. Mary's Cemetery in Newport.
Friends may call at the Miller & Ketcham Funeral Home in Brandon on Friday, December 4, from 3-7 p.m.
Memorial gifts in lieu of flowers may be made in his memory to the Bell Fund of Our Lady of Good Help Church, 36 Carver Street, Brandon, VT 05733.