Nancy Lair Griffin

GRIFFIN, NANCY LAIR

Private School Director

NANCY LAIR GRIFFIN, 69, of Hedgesville, WV died peacefully October 8, 2004 at City Hospital, Martinsburg, WV. She had courageously survived melanoma cancer for 35 years.

Mrs. Griffin was born April 8, 1935 in Chicago, IL, the third daughter of the late John Lee Lair and Virginia Frances Lair. In 1939 she moved with her family to Renfro Valley, KY where her father founded the nationally famous Renfro Valley Barn Dance. She attended public schools in nearby Mt. Vernon, KY and graduated from Centre College, Danville, KY in 1956 with a BA degree and a major in early childhood education.

From 1956 to 1973 she accompanied her husband on military assignments throughout the U.S. and overseas. During this time she taught elementary grades on Vashon Island, WA and in Lexington, KY. In 1974 she began teaching at the Grasshopper Green and Kenwood private school in Annandale, VA. In 1989 she became Director of this school and held this position until she retired in 1996.

In April 1996, she and her husband moved permanently to The Woods Resort in Hedgesville. Mrs. Griffin was a member of The Woods Womens' Golf Association and a charter member of The Woods Homeowners Association Book Club. She loved gardening, needlework, basket weaving, reading and grandmothering.

Survivors include her husband of 48 years, Lowell (Bo) of Hedgesville and three daughters, Susan Hanan and her husband, Lars of Chevy Chase, MD, Frances Biase and her husband, Nick of Rockville, MD and Katherine Lair Griffin of Alexandria, VA and two sisters, Ann Henderson of Mt. Vernon, KY and Barbara Smith of Hopkinsville, KY and five grandchildren, Peter, Matthew and Eric Hanan and Annie and Marta Biase.

In addition to her parents, Nancy was preceded in death by a sister, Virginia Lee King.

Interment will be private at Arlington National Cemetery. A memorial service will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations in the name of Nancy I. Griffin may be made to Hospice of the Panhandle, 122 Waverly Ct., Martinsburg, WV 25401 or to the American Cancer Society, Attn: Melanoma Research, 2654 Valley Ave., Suite B., Winchester, VA 22601.