Norma Phyllis Griffin of Lompoc, California died Friday, October 29th 2010. She was born in Los Angeles, California, July 31st 1918 to Grace and Norman Horton. Norma was the fourth of five children, and baptized May 14th, 1928 at University Christian Church in Los Angeles. She graduated from Manual Arts High School in 1936. She married Alvah Merle Griffin September 12th, 1937. She was a devoted homemaker and wife with a flare for design and created her own wedding dress. Her first child was born in 1938 and lived just one day. She and "Griff" had Michael in 1939, and daughter, Merrill "Suzi" in 1942. Norma and her husband moved to Lompoc in 1984 and were members of Trinity Church of the Nazarene since 1987. She and Griff were married for 67 years until his death in 2004.
Norma lived her life with passion and heart. Her life with Griff was devoted to nurturing and building a strong Christian family. Throughout her life, she and Griff came to know an amazing and joyful group of friends. Norma was the perfect example of living the Golden Rule. She gave of herself and her heart, limitlessly, and in turn, she received the truest and greatest gifts…friends and family who loved her deeply and beyond measure, and a complete and loving relationship with Jesus Christ, her Lord and Savior. Anyone that knew her would tell you, she was one of the most loving, giving, honest, and truly Christian people that they were blessed to have ever known.
Norma is survived by her son, Michael Griffin and his wife Carol of Juneau, Alaska; daughter, Suzi Oaks and husband Don of Solvang; grandsons, Chris Griffin and wife Lisa, Steve Oaks and wife Michelle; sister, Marjorie Dalton of Lompoc; granddaughters, Melinda Griffin and Tiffany Bloyer and husband Chris; great-grandchildren, Timothy, Nicholas, Michaela, Lindsay, Robert, Lauren, Mitchel, Zach, Alex, and Sam; and many nieces, nephews, relatives and dear friends; and finally by her constant friend and companion, Duffee.
Her parents, husband, firstborn, sister Opal Peo, brothers Gerald Horton and Wilmot Horton, and sweet dog, Paddy all preceded her in death.
A Graveside service to celebrate Norma's life will be held on Monday November, 8th 2010 at 11 a.m. at the Lompoc Cemetery. If you would like to honor Norma and the life she led, please take a moment to consider offering your time and heart to others as you travel your own paths. For Norma and for those that she raised, taught, and loved, the rewards are immeasurable.