Michael Griffith

Mike Griffith, 78, of Azle, Texas passed away peacefully on January 15, 2023.

Mike was born in Greenville, South Carolina in January 1945, the second son of Staff Sergeant Raymond C. Griffith and Anita June Griffith. At the end of World War II, Raymond and June moved their family to Odessa, Texas where Mike grew up. At age 14, he received his driver’s license and first speeding ticket. After graduating from Odessa High School in 1963, Mike was selected for Officer Candidate School and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the Army Engineer Regiment in 1967. While in the Army, Mike built ice bridges in Alaska, ports and roads in Vietnam, and schools and hospitals in Germany. As a Reserve Officer, he commanded the 430th Engineer Battalion (Tomball Texas) and served as the Executive Officer of the 493rd Engineer Group (Dallas Texas). His service medals include the National Defense Service Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal, and the Vietnam Cross of Gallantry. Mike retired from military service as a Colonel in 2005.

Mike taught for many years in the Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service, where he achieved notoriety for his dedication to realism in training, losing a thumb to the fan blade of a bulldozer while teaching a safety class. Mike retired from TEEX in 2003 but continued to teach a variety of construction topics on a contract basis for another decade.

Mike was a generous soul. He had an irreverent sense of humor and a gift for making folks instantly comfortable. He never met a stranger and was always ready to help his friends with whatever they needed. Mike could build anything, and if it was a machine --he could fix it. He could tell you the make, model, color, and engine size of every car and motorcycle he ever owned. He loved the Dallas Cowboys, internal combustion engines, his Percheron draft horses, and Dolly Parton. Not necessarily in that order.

Mike was preceded in death by his parents, Raymond and Anita; his older brother, Raymond Griffith; and son, Gregory P. Griffith.

Survivors: He is survived by his wife, Becky; daughter, Lori (wife, Patti); son, Jeff (wife, Sheila); daughter-in-law, Trish; brother, Duane (wife, Reba); sister, Carma; six grandchildren; nieces and nephews; and beloved great-granddaughter, Lyra.

Interment with full military honors will be at the DFW National Cemetery, 2000 Mountain Creek Parkway, Dallas at 10:15 am on January 26, 2023.

A Memorial Service will be held at Messiah Lutheran Church, 907 Washington Dr., Weatherford, Texas, at 2:30 p.m. on the same day, January 26th.

Memorials: If you would like to honor Mike’s memory with a charitable donation, please consider the Gary Sinese Foundation ( Home | Gary Sinise Foundation)  to help support and honor the families of America’s fallen service members.