Mary Griffin

Mary Martha Bowden Griffin was born November 24, 1924 in Houston, Texas to Leonard Hightower Bowden and Mary Walker Bowden. She passed away in Lufkin, Texas on February 8, 2017 at age 92. A private grave side service for the family is planned for a later date. Mary was a 1943 graduate of Huntsville High School where she was the drum major of the high school band and an honor student. That Fall, she enrolled in Sam Houston State (Teachers) College where she met Samuel D. Griffin, a young soldier the Army sent to the college for training. After Sam's discharge from the Army, the couple married in January 1946 in Glastonbury, CT and moved to Michigan where Sam pursued his degree in industrial engineering at General Motors Institute (now Kettering University). In July of 1955, Sam was hired as an engineer for Texas Foundries by Col. Cal Chambers and the family moved to Lufkin. In 1962, Mary finished her degree in education at SFASU and began her teaching career at Mable Melear Elementary School for principal Jerry Campbell and principal Ina Mae Townsend. Later, she taught for many years at Lufkin Junior High West for principal Jim Gray. Mary retired from teaching and Sam from Texas Foundries in 1988. They bought a series of motor homes and traveled the country visiting friends and family and researching their individual genealogical histories. Mary was active in St. Cyprian's Episcopal Church, serving on the altar guild and teaching Sunday School. She was also active in the Angelina County Genealogical Society, Good Neighbor Sam RV Club, Delta Kappa Gamma, Angelina Co. Retired Teachers Association, Sam Houston State University and Huntsville High School Alumni Associations, and the women's auxiliary of the Lufkin Kiwanis Club. Mary is survived by her sons, Sam Jr. and wife, Marcia, of Lufkin; and Martin and wife, Alyson, of Sunnyvale, Texas; grandchildren: Joshua Griffin (Jessica) of McKinney, Texas, Kari Griffin-Madeja (Thomas) of Stuttgart, Germany; Jordan Griffin (Courtney) of Frisco, Texas; Katie Griffin McCain (Doug) of Houston, Texas, and Grayson Griffin of Fort Worth, Texas; great-grandchildren: Addison Griffin, Landry Griffin, Ethan Griffin, Grace Griffin and Lucia Madeja; brother, Gus B. Bowden of College Station, Texas; and a number of nieces, nephews and extended families. Mary was predeceased by her husband of 68 years, Samuel D. Griffin Sr.; sisters Betty Wright and Jacqueline May; and brother Bill Bowden. Mary's family wishes to thank the Rev. Max Reynolds and the staff of both Pinecrest Retirement Community and Hospice in the Pines for their loving care of Mary during her extended illness. Donations in memory of Mary may be made to St. Cyprian's Memorial Fund, Inc., 919 S. John Redditt Dr., Lufkin, Texas 75904; the Kiwanis Scholarship Fund, P. O. Box 155005, Lufkin, Texas 75915-5005; the Angelina Co. Genealogical Society, P.O. Box 150631, Lufkin, Texas 75915-0631; or to a charity of the donor's choice.