Edward F. Griffin, beloved son, brother, uncle, husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, and friend passed away on July 31, 2021, at the age of 92. He is sorely missed. Known to many as Ed or Griff, he traveled extensively during a long and honorable Air Force career, Civil Service career, and as a retiree. His most recent residences were in Wimauma, FL; Colorado Springs, CO; and Lompoc, CA. He was born September 22, 1928, in Springfield, MA, to John and Helen (Kenney) Griffin.

Ed graduated from high school at Rindge Technical in Cambridge, MA, in 1947, and attended college for two years before answering the call of duty during the Korean conflict. He joined the Air Force in 1951 and was promptly assigned to Rhein-Main Air Base, Germany. He was fond of saying he "fought" the Korean War in Germany. It was here that he met and married his German sweetheart, Inge R. Keller, on March 1, 1952. They had five children: Margaret "Peggy" (deceased), Terry Griffin Dickinson (married to Thomas), Deborah, Francis (deceased), and Ed Jr. Ed and Inge enjoyed 28 years together, before her untimely death June 6, 1980.  As a family they accompanied him throughout his career, traveling the United States, and living abroad in Libya, Germany, and Spain. Ed was also assigned to Udorn AFB, Thailand, during the Vietnam conflict. He valued education highly and, while serving in the Air Force and supporting his family, completed an Associate Degree and Bachelor of Arts degree with the University of Maryland. He later went on to earn a Master of Arts degree from the University of Northern Colorado. Ed was proud of these accomplishments, as he was of his 26-year Air Force career (retired as an MSgt in 1976) and 22-year career as a government civil servant (retired as a GS-13 from Vandenberg Air Force Base in 2000, earning the Outstanding Civilian Career Service Award). His areas of specialization included avionics and navigational electronics, but among his most prized honors was his Master Instructor award. His work as an educator teaching electronics and metrology, developing said curriculum and supervising other instructors was his professional passion. After losing his beloved wife, he later met and married Susanna Hayes (deceased) in 1992, and they were together for 26 years.

Ed was a man of staunch and lifelong faith, born and raised Catholic, and was a member of the Knights of Columbus. He once listed his hobbies as jogging, reading, and music, but his interests were much broader. He was an accomplished caricaturist, often drawing for the amusement of his children. He appreciated a wide variety of music (Willie Nelson was a favorite) and whenever near a keyboard would break into a raucous rendition of boogie woogie. He was light on his feet and other couples would often stop to admire as he and a partner danced past. He was committed to self-improvement and found an outlet for this in Tae Kwando, jogging, and lifting weights. He was intellectually curious, a perpetual learner, a newshound, and a keen political observer.

Ed was predeceased by those mentioned above and his brothers, Jackie and Billy, and sister, MaryEllen Gilbert. He is survived by his daughters, Terry Griffin Dickinson (Thomas) and Deborah Griffin, his son, Ed Jr., his former daughter-in-law, Carolee Griffin, his grandchildren, Tess Dickinson Capps (John), Matt Griffin, David Griffin, Kellie Griffin Gleaton (Cody), and his great-granddaughters, Alyssa Capps and April Griffin. He is also survived by many loved nieces and nephews and their children in his home state of Massachusetts.

Ed is interred at Ft. Logan National Cemetery, Denver, CO, and rests with his Inge. A memorial service will be held on September 25 at noon at Queen of Angels Catholic Church, 3495 Rucker Road, Lompoc, CA. Those who knew and loved Ed are invited to celebrate him and join the family afterwards for a catered lunch at the home of his daughter, Terry, and son-in-law Thomas. Arrangements are by Starbuck-Lind Mortuary.