Donald Eugene Griffin, 81, passed away on November 20th in Orlando, FL. He was the loving husband of Raelene Seiler Griffin. They shared 52 years of marriage together.
Born in Hominy, Oklahoma, on July 10, 1941, he was the son of Ruby Lay Griffin and George Griffin. He attended Hominy Highschool and Oklahoma State University. He was a veteran of the Vietnam War and served in the Airforce as an F-4 fighter pilot. His commercial aviation career span through National, Pam Am, and Delta airlines.
Don will be remembered for his love of golf, having home cooked meals, and spending time with friends and family. He will be remembered for his humbleness and easy-going personality. He always thought of others before himself and would give anything to make sure his family was happy.
He is survived by his children, Kelly Griffin Koller and Jeffery Griffin and his spouse, Callie Griffin; grandchildren, Seiler Griffin, Koen Koller, Casey Griffin and Kamron Koller, and his siblings, Georgia Griffin Hester and Joe Griffin.
Don was a member of Pilot Training Class 65-F which graduated from Vance Air Force Base in Enid Oklahoma on March 20 1965. In preparation for a class reunion in 2010, Don provided the following biography of his life from graduation to 2010.
Upon graduation from 65F, I went to the F-4C at Eglin, then Ubon Thailand (100 North), and finished my military career as an instructor pilot at Homestead Florida. My heroes will always be the men who were POW's in Hanoi!
In 1969, I was hired by National Airlines. I was based in Miami and started as a copilot on the 727. After 11 years we were bought by Pan Am. The controversy over the merger of the seniority lists began "Relative Position" or Date of Hire"! On Sept 1, 1991 Pan Am declared bankruptcy, sold off the pieces and I was hired by Delta Airlines. Eleven years later I finally retired in 2002 after 33 years of flying all over the world in the 727/737/747/DC10/L1011 and A310 aircraft. Shortly after my retirement Delta declared bankruptcy and was allowed to terminate the "Pilots Pension Plan"! No other employee pension plans were affected. In 2008 Delta found 3.1 billion dollars to buy Northwest Airlines!
I have survived Viet Nam, 3 Airlines and a head on car wreck in 1987. A drunk driver in a large truck came across the road and hit me head on! The injuries were too numerous to list - it wasn't my time to die. With the help of God, family and friends, I lived to fight another day. I truly am a "Lucky Guy"!
On the lucky side, my wife Raelene and I have been married over 40 years. Our son and daughter are happily married and we have 4 grandsons ages 2-8. They all received a set of golf clubs for their first birthday and love to "whack it" and ride in the cart. I took up golf after retirement and try to play 3 times a week. Golf and grandkids - that's what retirement is all about!!!
To all my 65F classmates: "God grants liberty only to those who love it and are always ready to guard and defend it." (Daniel Webster)
Thank you for your sacrifice.............
Born in Hominy, Oklahoma, on July 10, 1941, he was the son of Ruby Lay Griffin and George Griffin. He attended Hominy Highschool and Oklahoma State University. He was a veteran of the Vietnam War and served in the Airforce as an F-4 fighter pilot. His commercial aviation career span through National, Pam Am, and Delta airlines.
Don will be remembered for his love of golf, having home cooked meals, and spending time with friends and family. He will be remembered for his humbleness and easy-going personality. He always thought of others before himself and would give anything to make sure his family was happy.
He is survived by his children, Kelly Griffin Koller and Jeffery Griffin and his spouse, Callie Griffin; grandchildren, Seiler Griffin, Koen Koller, Casey Griffin and Kamron Koller, and his siblings, Georgia Griffin Hester and Joe Griffin.
Don was a member of Pilot Training Class 65-F which graduated from Vance Air Force Base in Enid Oklahoma on March 20 1965. In preparation for a class reunion in 2010, Don provided the following biography of his life from graduation to 2010.
Upon graduation from 65F, I went to the F-4C at Eglin, then Ubon Thailand (100 North), and finished my military career as an instructor pilot at Homestead Florida. My heroes will always be the men who were POW's in Hanoi!
In 1969, I was hired by National Airlines. I was based in Miami and started as a copilot on the 727. After 11 years we were bought by Pan Am. The controversy over the merger of the seniority lists began "Relative Position" or Date of Hire"! On Sept 1, 1991 Pan Am declared bankruptcy, sold off the pieces and I was hired by Delta Airlines. Eleven years later I finally retired in 2002 after 33 years of flying all over the world in the 727/737/747/DC10/L1011 and A310 aircraft. Shortly after my retirement Delta declared bankruptcy and was allowed to terminate the "Pilots Pension Plan"! No other employee pension plans were affected. In 2008 Delta found 3.1 billion dollars to buy Northwest Airlines!
I have survived Viet Nam, 3 Airlines and a head on car wreck in 1987. A drunk driver in a large truck came across the road and hit me head on! The injuries were too numerous to list - it wasn't my time to die. With the help of God, family and friends, I lived to fight another day. I truly am a "Lucky Guy"!
On the lucky side, my wife Raelene and I have been married over 40 years. Our son and daughter are happily married and we have 4 grandsons ages 2-8. They all received a set of golf clubs for their first birthday and love to "whack it" and ride in the cart. I took up golf after retirement and try to play 3 times a week. Golf and grandkids - that's what retirement is all about!!!
To all my 65F classmates: "God grants liberty only to those who love it and are always ready to guard and defend it." (Daniel Webster)
Thank you for your sacrifice.............
Donald Eugene Griffin, 81, passed away on November 20th in Orlando, FL. He was the loving husband of Raelene Seiler Griffin. They shared 52 years of marriage together.
Born in Hominy, Oklahoma, on July 10, 1941, he was the son of Ruby Lay Griffin and George Griffin. He attended Hominy Highschool and Oklahoma State University. He was a veteran of the Vietnam War and served in the Airforce as an F-4 fighter pilot. His commercial aviation career span through National, Pam Am, and Delta airlines.
Don will be remembered for his love of golf, having home cooked meals, and spending time with friends and family. He will be remembered for his humbleness and easy-going personality. He always thought of others before himself and would give anything to make sure his family was happy.
He is survived by his children, Kelly Griffin Koller and Jeffery Griffin and his spouse, Callie Griffin; grandchildren, Seiler Griffin, Koen Koller, Casey Griffin and Kamron Koller, and his siblings, Georgia Griffin Hester and Joe Griffin.
Don was a member of Pilot Training Class 65-F which graduated from Vance Air Force Base in Enid Oklahoma on March 20 1965. In preparation for a class reunion in 2010, Don provided the following biography of his life from graduation to 2010.
Upon graduation from 65F, I went to the F-4C at Eglin, then Ubon Thailand (100 North), and finished my military career as an instructor pilot at Homestead Florida. My heroes will always be the men who were POW's in Hanoi!
In 1969, I was hired by National Airlines. I was based in Miami and started as a copilot on the 727. After 11 years we were bought by Pan Am. The controversy over the merger of the seniority lists began "Relative Position" or Date of Hire"! On Sept 1, 1991 Pan Am declared bankruptcy, sold off the pieces and I was hired by Delta Airlines. Eleven years later I finally retired in 2002 after 33 years of flying all over the world in the 727/737/747/DC10/L1011 and A310 aircraft. Shortly after my retirement Delta declared bankruptcy and was allowed to terminate the "Pilots Pension Plan"! No other employee pension plans were affected. In 2008 Delta found 3.1 billion dollars to buy Northwest Airlines!
I have survived Viet Nam, 3 Airlines and a head on car wreck in 1987. A drunk driver in a large truck came across the road and hit me head on! The injuries were too numerous to list - it wasn't my time to die. With the help of God, family and friends, I lived to fight another day. I truly am a "Lucky Guy"!
On the lucky side, my wife Raelene and I have been married over 40 years. Our son and daughter are happily married and we have 4 grandsons ages 2-8. They all received a set of golf clubs for their first birthday and love to "whack it" and ride in the cart. I took up golf after retirement and try to play 3 times a week. Golf and grandkids - that's what retirement is all about!!!
To all my 65F classmates: "God grants liberty only to those who love it and are always ready to guard and defend it." (Daniel Webster)
Thank you for your sacrifice.............
Born in Hominy, Oklahoma, on July 10, 1941, he was the son of Ruby Lay Griffin and George Griffin. He attended Hominy Highschool and Oklahoma State University. He was a veteran of the Vietnam War and served in the Airforce as an F-4 fighter pilot. His commercial aviation career span through National, Pam Am, and Delta airlines.
Don will be remembered for his love of golf, having home cooked meals, and spending time with friends and family. He will be remembered for his humbleness and easy-going personality. He always thought of others before himself and would give anything to make sure his family was happy.
He is survived by his children, Kelly Griffin Koller and Jeffery Griffin and his spouse, Callie Griffin; grandchildren, Seiler Griffin, Koen Koller, Casey Griffin and Kamron Koller, and his siblings, Georgia Griffin Hester and Joe Griffin.
Don was a member of Pilot Training Class 65-F which graduated from Vance Air Force Base in Enid Oklahoma on March 20 1965. In preparation for a class reunion in 2010, Don provided the following biography of his life from graduation to 2010.
Upon graduation from 65F, I went to the F-4C at Eglin, then Ubon Thailand (100 North), and finished my military career as an instructor pilot at Homestead Florida. My heroes will always be the men who were POW's in Hanoi!
In 1969, I was hired by National Airlines. I was based in Miami and started as a copilot on the 727. After 11 years we were bought by Pan Am. The controversy over the merger of the seniority lists began "Relative Position" or Date of Hire"! On Sept 1, 1991 Pan Am declared bankruptcy, sold off the pieces and I was hired by Delta Airlines. Eleven years later I finally retired in 2002 after 33 years of flying all over the world in the 727/737/747/DC10/L1011 and A310 aircraft. Shortly after my retirement Delta declared bankruptcy and was allowed to terminate the "Pilots Pension Plan"! No other employee pension plans were affected. In 2008 Delta found 3.1 billion dollars to buy Northwest Airlines!
I have survived Viet Nam, 3 Airlines and a head on car wreck in 1987. A drunk driver in a large truck came across the road and hit me head on! The injuries were too numerous to list - it wasn't my time to die. With the help of God, family and friends, I lived to fight another day. I truly am a "Lucky Guy"!
On the lucky side, my wife Raelene and I have been married over 40 years. Our son and daughter are happily married and we have 4 grandsons ages 2-8. They all received a set of golf clubs for their first birthday and love to "whack it" and ride in the cart. I took up golf after retirement and try to play 3 times a week. Golf and grandkids - that's what retirement is all about!!!
To all my 65F classmates: "God grants liberty only to those who love it and are always ready to guard and defend it." (Daniel Webster)
Thank you for your sacrifice.............
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