Donald Francis Griffin Sr.

1910 - 2007

After spending time with his family, Donald Francis Griffin Sr. went home to be with the Lord peacefully on Sept. 2, 2007, at the age of 96.

Don was born Dec. 23, 1910, in Modesto, Calif. His father worked as an engineer and his mother was a teacher. Both were Californian homesteaders and Don was proud to be a third generation Californian. He moved to his parents' farm in Visalia and lived in and around Visalia, enjoying adventures with all his relatives.

Don attended California State University, Fresno, and Stanford University, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts in civil engineering. He put himself through college working as an engineer surveying and trail building in Yosemite and Sequoia national parks. During World War II he worked as a professor of engineering at Stanford University.

Don married his true love, Clara Johanne Langmack, in March 1943 at the Stanford University Chapel. Don always said his greatest accomplishments in life were his marriage to Clara and raising his family. Shortly after their marriage, Don accepted a professorship at the University of Southern California engineering school. Soon after they built the first home in Brentwood Glen, near Westwood Village. Next they welcomed two sons, Donald Jr. and Robert; and daughter, Nancy.

Don moved his growing family to Ventura in 1956, taking a job as director of the materials division at the U.S. Naval Civil Engineering Laboratory in Port Hueneme, where he worked until his retirement in 1973. Don and Clara's family grew with the arrival of son, Richard, and daughter, Carolyn.

After his retirement, Don worked for several private engineering firms and universities, consulting and working on government projects helping to engineer, among other things, instant runways for use by the military. He was an expert in testing and materials, particularly concrete aggregates including sand. His wife, Clara was director of the campus nursery school in Ventura for many years. They used to joke that she taught "Sandbox I" and he taught "Sandbox II."

In addition to being a licensed land surveyor and civil engineer, Don served as a member of the policy board for the United States Civil Service Examiners for Scientists and Engineers, received the Sanford E. Thompson Award from the American Society for Testing and Materials and was a life member of the American Society of Civil Engineers.

Don was a prolific writer of short stories and poetry and was known for his great sense of humor. Don loved nature, especially Sequoia National Park, "God's Country," where he spent time admiring the giant redwood trees. Many of his stories and poems were published by Stanford University and archived in historical publications of California. He was a fan of naturalist John Muir and collected his books.

Don was active in the Ventura Missionary Church. In 2003, when his wife, Clara, passed away, he moved to Santa Monica. Don is survived by his children, Donald Jr., Robert, Nancy, Carolyn and Richard; and grandchildren, Michael, Ryan, Marisa, Ashley Griffin; and his daughter-in-law, Dalilah.

A service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 22 at Ventura Baptist Church, 5415 Ralston St., Ventura.