Joseph D. Griffin

Joseph D. Griffin

Augusta, GA – Entered into rest on Sunday, February 20, 2022, Joseph Dempsey Griffin, 93, husband of Rita Ramos Griffin.
Named after his grandfather, Joe was born to George D. (aka Gary Allen) Griffin (1894-1974) and Pollie Helen Meyers Griffin in Orangeburg, SC. George and Pollie were also blessed with another son, George Allen (aka Gus) (1931-2021) and a daughter, Ada Maxine Griffin-Irick (1936-2005). Joe’s father regularly worked away from home during most of his youth, so they weren’t able to spend a lot of time together. Even after his parents divorced when he was still young, his mother in Bowman, SC, and his step-mother, Gaye, in Orlando, FL, raised him with unshakable Christian faith and values that shaped his character throughout his life.
Joe’s formative years were spent working on nearby farms belonging to family and neighbors. It was those relatives and neighbors who taught him to value family and community and to respect others. He often spoke about how simple life was growing up in a farming community: when you borrowed anything, you returned it; if you broke something, you fixed it; if your neighbor needed anything, you helped them get it. His community had one Christian church and everyone worshiped together with people who loved and served God by observing the teachings of our Lord Jesus Christ. Joe never forgot the year winter came early and their neighbors came to their farm and cut enough wood to last the family the entire winter. The neighbors refused to accept any form of payment in goods or services, so his mother made the men a gigantic pot of chicken and rice, insisting they take home whatever they didn’t eat.
In 1944, at 16 Joe left school early to serve his country by joining the army and serving in the Merchant Marines and the 82nd Airborne. As he grew into a man, Joe was able to continue learning from the fine men and women who served alongside him. Throughout his time in the military, he continued to send money home to his mother to help with his younger brother and sister. Discharged in 1949, Joe returned home to finish high school in 1950. Turning to his community, Joe and his friend made a deal with a local college professor who was wheelchair bound. They agreed to take the professor fishing twice a week in exchange for tutoring twice a week. This would enable Joe to successfully complete the two math courses he needed for his diploma at the same time.
After graduation, Joe began working as an ambulance driver for Dupont at the Savanah River Plant. There he met his loving and devoted wife of over 72 years, Rita Ramos. They were married at Our Lady of Peace Catholic Church in North Augusta, SC and started their family in the CSRA. Joe and Rita were blessed with three daughters, Marie Theresa (1951-2014), Kathleen Elizabeth and Karen Ann. During those years, Joe joined the Catholic Church and was blessed to celebrate his First Communion with his daughter, Theresa.
Joe enjoyed a variety of careers and owned several businesses throughout his life. His careers included appliance repair, electrician, pipe fitter, welding, construction and engineering. As a “jack of all trades”, most of his careers grew from his love of books and his ability to teach himself how to do anything that interested him. Joe’s eagerness to learn always provided his family with endless of adventures that were often a result of his latest quest for knowledge about a new interest. He created incredible adventures for children and grandchildren on the ocean, lake, mountains and even in the backyard.
Joe and Rita tenderly loved and cared for their daughter, Theresa, during her long battle with cancer. They were blessed to care for her at home through the end of her life on earth in 2014. As a loving and patient father, he taught his children how to be good parents, grandparents and great-grandparents. Joe was a loving and devoted husband who was frequently overheard tenderly telling Rita, “I don’t know what I ever did to deserve you. I’m SO thankful you’ve stuck with me all these years, Sugar Babe!” and she always responded “You’re SUCH a good person. I don’t know how I ever managed to have such a good husband. I always thank the good Lord for you.”
Joe embraced everyone and he lived his life in service to God, family, country, neighbors and strangers. We‘ve been truly blessed to have him in our lives and we all miss him so very much. It’s impossible to describe his life in a few short paragraphs, so the family is asking that everyone please share any stories and memories in the comments so that his story can be appreciated for generations to come.
Services to be held at St. Mary’s on the Hill Catholic Church on Monday, February 28, 2022. The Rosary to be prayed at 10:30am followed by a funeral mass at 11:00am.
Thomas Poteet & Son Funeral Directors, 214 Davis Rd., Augusta, GA 30907 (706) 364-8484. Please sign the guestbook at www.thomaspoteet.com