Lee “Ben” Edward Griffin
GRIFFIN, Lee “Ben” Edward, WASHBURN, November 1, 2010. Arrangements are in the care of Duncan-Graves Funeral Home, Presque Isle.
WASHBURN – Lee “Ben” Edward Griffin passed away November 1, at the Aroostook Medical Center after a brief illness. Born in Lincoln, he was the son of George and Ella Griffin.
He attended school in Lincoln. While a student at Mattanawcook Academy, he was the first to letter in five sports but his true passion was baseball. He played pro baseball at the Farm League level for the Brooklyn Dodgers. He played professional baseball for several years and traveled throughout Europe on the Army baseball team. He joined the U.S. Army on August 16, 1950, and was discharged on August 14, 1955. He was a veteran of the Korean War and spent two years in Europe. While there, he participated in the Freedom of Paris (10th Anniversary) with the 22nd RCT of the 4th Infantry Division. While in Europe, he attended the University of Georgia and Husson College through the college programs of USAFI. He was a life member of the V.F.W. Post #4154 in Millinocket and served as the Commander from 1978 to 1979. He worked for the Great Northern Paper Company in the Woodlands Department where he retired in 1983.
He is survived by his wife, Mary and her two daughters, who he raised as his own, Kerry Gordon and her husband, Bob of Fort Fairfield and Karen Shaw of Presque Isle; a daughter, Wendy Clisham and family of Texas; and sons, Peter and Kirk Griffin of Kingston, NY and their families; his grandchildren, Todd “Sam” Martin of Rockland, Tiffany “Sloane” and husband, Carl Bindoo of Dedham, Mass., and Chad “Chadrack” Shaw of Presque Isle and his special friend, Danna; and two great- grandchildren, Portia and Victoria.
He was predeceased by his parents; brother, Bruce; and son-in-law, Allan Shaw.
The family would like to thank the nurses in the Intensive Care Unit and the second floor at TAMC for their kindness and excellent care of Lee. Also a special thank you to Dr. Sawyer and Dr. Williams for their compassion and warm, caring spirits.
Relatives and friends called at Duncan-Graves Funeral Home, 30 Church St., Presque Isle, on Thursday, November 4, between the hours of 6-8 p.m. Funeral services were held on Friday, November 5, at 11 a.m. at the Crouseville Advent Church in Crouseville followed by a reception to celebrate Lee’s life at the Crouseville Mission Building. Interment was at the Hillside Grove Cemetery in Crouseville. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be sent to the Crouseville Church Building Fund in Crouseville, Maine or the Allan R. Shaw Memorial Scholarship Fund at 175 Walnut Street, Dedham, MA 02026. Online condolences may be made at www.duncangraves.com
