Robert Eugene "Gene" Griffith

GRIFFITH, ROBERT EUGENE "GENE," a longtime resident of Lexington, KY, died September 30, 2013 at St. Joseph's Hospital after a very sudden illness.

He leaves behind his wife of 65 years, Catherine 'Katie' Griffith, his two sons Howard Griffith (Monica) of Louisville and Brian Griffith, of Cottage Grove, OR, and his only grand child, Maxwell Griffith, Louisville. He also leaves his Pennsylvania family, brother, Paul Griffith, Nieces, Bonnie Weaver, Becky Kaag and great-nieces and nephews.

Gene was a designer and engineer for IBM and retired after 30 years and working at the Lexington Plant. He was a transplant from IBM New York. Gene was born in Altoona, PA and lived there until he and Katie married. He grew up in and around trains in that area and that led to a life long love of all sizes and types of trains-both real and model. He was an avid woodworker and meticulous designer. After retirement Gene nurtured his gift of drawing and produced beautiful pen and ink drawings and some watercolors of the Pennsylvania and Kentucky areas he and Katie visited together. Katie and Gene was a practical fun loving couple who shared many interests and love of family and their huge menagerie of pets, both current and past.

With his extended circle of family and friends he could discuss all manner of current politics and sports and enjoyed sharing his love of reading and cartoons with his grandson Max. Over the years he weathered many illnesses and because he was an intelligent and thoughtful patient he lived life to the fullness until the end. He was a great dad to his children and a good friend to neighbors he loved. He will be missed by all for a long time. A memorial visitation will be held 6-8 p.m. Thursday at Kerr Brothers Funeral Home-Harrodsburg Road.

If desired, family requests donation to the Lexington Humane Society, 1600 Old Frankfort Pike, Lexington, KY 40504 in his name in lieu of flowers.