Obituary: Paul David Griffiths

</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[Paul David Griffiths, 87, Harrisburg, passed away at 8:30 a.m. Thursday, June 30, 2011, at his residence.

He was born on Jan. 22, 1924, to the late David and Emma (Uhe) Griffiths. On Feb. 8, 1947, he married Mary Walker, and she preceded him in death on Dec. 11, 2003.

Paul was chief safety inspector for Freeman United Coal. He was a World War II Navy veteran, where he served on the USS Woolsey as a torpedo man. He was a member of the Harrisburg Masonic Lodge, the VFW and the American Legion.

Surviving family members include his daughter, Paulette and husband Charles "Bimp" Simpson of Harrisburg; a brother, Carl and wife Imogene Griffiths of Harrisburg; two grandchildren, Verlinda Henshaw and husband Brad of Harrisburg and Tiffany Kielhorn and husband Dustin of Harrisburg; five great-grandchildren, Brennan and Skylar Street, Whitney Henshaw and Walker and Triton Kielhorn; and several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; wife; daughter, Verlinda Jones; an infant son; several brothers and sisters, Richard Griffiths, Wilma Morgan, Nora Orto, Juanita Spencer, Emma Zechini, Mary Bennett and Olive Griffiths.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, July 2, 2011, at Reed Funeral Chapel in Harrisburg. The Rev. Roger Lipe will officiate. Burial will follow in Odd Fellows Cemetery in Marion. Graveside military rites will be conducted by the National Guard. Visitation will be held from 6 to 9 p.m. Friday, July 1, 2011, at Reed Funeral Chapel. For those who wish, memorial contributions may be made to the Fresenius Dialysis Center. Envelopes will be available at the funeral home. Condolences may be sent to the family at the Internet site of www.reedfuneralchapel.com.