Chester Robert "Bob" Griffith

Chester Robert "Bob" Griffith, 84, of Vancouver, Washington, died peacefully November 9, 2025, after a long struggle with cancer. Bob was born on April 11, 1941, in Three Tree Point, Washington and raised in Portland, Oregon. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Architecture from the University of Oregon in 1963 and was a proud lifelong "Duck". Bob enrolled in four years of ROTC (Army Reserve Officer Training) culminating in Army Corps of Engineers commission as a Second Lieutenant in the 1st Armored Division, 16th Engineer Battalion at Fort Hood, Texas. There he served as a Platoon Leader, Company Executive Officer and Special Projects officer. Bob was discharged from active duty in August 1965 and then served in the reserves at Vancouver Barracks, Washington, until discharged from the Army Reserve in 1969.

Bob began his civilian professional career in 1965 as a Project Engineer for Standard Oil of California. He subsequently worked with E.J. Cole, Andersen and Hayden Island Construction Companies in Portland before joining Hawaiian Dredging Construction Company where he managed construction of the magnificent Hyatt Regency Waikoloa, Poipu Beach and Andaz Hotels.

In 2004, Bob's entrepreneurial spirit led him to start Griffith Construction Consultants, Inc. in Honolulu. He managed the Construction Management Company until his retirement in 2010. He subsequently resided in Vancouver, Washington and Palm Desert, California.

Bob did not confine his architectural and construction expertise to professional endeavors. He designed, built or remodeled several stunning homes in Oregon, Hawaii and California. Bob loved the water and, particularly, anything related to boats. He built and piloted radio-controlled boats, built detailed model boats to scale, traveled shipboard through the Panama Canal and to Alaska numerous times and owned numerous power boats. The last was Old Glory, which he enjoyed cruising on the Columbia and Willamette Rivers. Notwithstanding this, Bob's greatest passions were a good hamburger and University of Oregon Ducks football. When he was unable to attend games in person, there was nothing he enjoyed more than watching his Ducks on television.

Bob married Lorna Vell Sachs in 1961, though they later divorced. In 1979 he married Karen Diane Wiemer. Bob is survived by his two brothers; Jeffrey Griffith and Don Griffith; 7 children, Chester Pane (Eric Griffith), Kurt Griffith, Sonya Passannante, Gretchen Knize, Tracy Losli, Scott Anderson and Christine Wrigglesworth; 19 grandchildren; 16 great grandchildren and many beloved extended family members. Bob was preceded in death by his parents, Chester Griffith and Merle Knowles, his elder brother, Harlan Griffith and the love of his life, his wife Karen, with whom Bob is now reunited.

A Celebration of Bob's life is planned for the Spring of 2026.