Frederick Griffin

“For to me, to live is Christ,and to die is gain.”(Philippians 1:21)The beauty of one’s life lies in the simplicity of their convictions to live towards a new beginning thatwill have no end. Beyond their greatest aspirations for an earthly living is the assurance of eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Such depicts the life of a son, husband, father, brother, uncle, nephew, cousin,and friend all wrapped in the beautiful personality ofFrederickJosephGriffin.He was bornassigned to the parental stewardship of Marjorie Smith and Frederick Joseph Griffin in El Paso, Texas, on October 6, 1950.He was raised from the tender years of his youth to reverence God, and to pursue life towards the fulfillment of His purpose. Therefore, he resolved to accept Jesus Christ as his personal Savior and to live his life fully persuaded of the personal relationship he enjoyed with Him. This gave him every reason to live towards Lifewithout subscribing to the notionof living from day to day.Living in an imperfect world, he trusted God toperfect everything concerning him.His childhood years cataloged fond memories of folly and mischief. He could never forget stealing watermelons, getting shot in the behind with rock salt, wringing the neck of a chicken, and the experience of thinking someone was trying to break into the house when Dale thought she could defend the household with a Butter Knife.The commencement of his formal education was spent in the Ysleta Independent School District. His elementary years were spent at Hacienda Heights Elementary School. His middle and High School years were spent at Bel Air Junior / High School.He was as intellectually diverse as he was athletically active as a member of the offensive and defensive football team at Bel Air High School. He played the positions of an offensive tight end and a safety on defense.
As a young independent man of responsibility and strong moral fiber, Fred took initiatives to ensure he could protect himself and the lives of those he loved by studying the Martial Arts. As a Martial Artist, he participated in the sport of kickboxing.As a student of the martial arts,he was as conscious of the need to be compassionate as he was intentional about defending himself and others. This ensured there would be no compromise between his moral convictions and his martial conduct. During his studies of martial arts,he earned several degrees from the base levels of white belt through 4th-degree black belt.His inspiration and idol for martial arts was the late Bruce Lee up until his death inJuly of 1973. As recent as July of this year he honored the memory of his idol by visiting his grave site located in Seattle, Washington. Fred was an educated man. He believed that investing in the disciplines of preparation through higher education would reap a great harvest during his earthly life. He graduated from Bel Air High School in 1969. Following graduation in 1970, Fred enlisted in the United States Navy. He completed his Naval Training at Terminal Island, San Francisco, and in San Diego, California. He was a Veteran of the Vietnam War.After fulfilling his honorable tour of duty over the course of three years, he received an honorable discharge.He took several courses at the University of Texas at El Paso where heearned his Associates Degree, becoming an Orderly, and then aLicensed Practical Nurse. After relocating to the state of California, he continued working as a respiratory therapist at Robert F. Kennedy Hospital until he retired in 2004.Before his retirement after 30 years of honorable service, he would help to unionize Robert F. Kennedy Center as a Supervisor in the Respiratory Therapy Unit.
Knowing the Life he was blessed to have, Fred lived life to the absolute fullest! As a man who loved people of all walks, he valued every relationship as stewardship. He learned as he lived, and he lived as he learned. The order of divine providence afforded him to meet and marry Pamela Ford inJune 1972. To this Union was added,one beautiful daughter.In 1989Fred met his future wife under unique and strategic circumstances. Both were working the same shift at Robert F. Kennedy Hospital when he approached her from behind and pulled her hair. This would facilitate justifiable cause for himto explain he thought she was someone else. After apologizing for the seeminglyinnocent mistake, he strategically informed her that he had tickets for a Los Angeles Lakers Game. The icing on the cake was a proposition to join him. Tothis day, Natalie has NOT seen the Lakers.Eight years later,on October 3, 1998, the two were united in Holy Matrimony at All Saints Churchin Birchington, England. To this union was added the blessings of two beautifuldaughters and one handsome son.After the closing of Robert F. Kennedy Medical Center in October 2005, Fred andNatalie and the children relocated to Las Vegas, Nevada. Here is where retirement for Fred expanded the parameters of hisambitions to max-out in every dimension of his identityas a husband to his wife and as a father to his children. He spared nothing to ensure that their house was a safe, stable,and secureHome. Hetook the greatest delight in being a daddy to his beautiful and brilliant daughter. He could not have been more proud of his son who became a Cub Scout in 2007. With every intention to supportthe ambitions of his son, he becamea Den Chief.As Bailey advanced to becoming a Boy Scoutin 2012, Fred’s interests and intentions became equally insistent in the support of his son.He was awarded the prestigious “Wood Badge” award. He was promoted to Scout Master.
He gave oversight to the “Mountain Men” patrol, and his pride for his son was multiplied by his investments in so many of the other boys. He helped several of them achieve their “Eagle Scout” and was extremely loved and respectedby the young men and adults in the Troop.Their Motto which Fred used all the time was a significant affirmation of his perpetual persuasion in life, “AND ON WE GO.”He was a devoted husband to his wife, a dedicated father to his children, a diligent son to his mother, a delightful brother to his siblings, and a devout man of Faith before his God.He purposely sanctified time to spend in worship of God at Victory Baptist Church. There he could be found as a passionate witness and worshipper of the Lord. He was deeply fond of his pastor and equally fulfilled by the teachings, preaching,and fellowship unique to children of God. He was not ashamed to tell anyone about the goodness of the Lord under ALL conditions; while he remained respectful of the religious convictions of every personhe grew to know.He was a social and political activist advancing the better cause of the uneducated, the displaced and, the impoverished. In 2017, his support of the Democratic nominee and their progressive agenda was consistent with his passionate interests to see a better America. His concern for the betterment of all was not only voiced but viewed in his courage and commitment to go door to door, encouraging the support of voters’ of the democratic nominee.His love for his immediate and extended family was his greatest love next to his love for God.His love for ALL was directed by his love for God. The compass of his conscience was inspired by his commitment to pleasing God. Therefore, it is no wonder why so close to his transition from the shores of his earthly life; he deliberatelyaffirmedhis love for everyone in some of the most uniqueand strategic ways. It was
as if he wanted to ensure,those he loved knew something that would remain with them in his absence as they would if he were present.Physically strong, mentally settled, emotionally stable and spiritually secure,Fred departed this life October 12, 2019. Among those preceding his earthly transition are his father, Frederick Joseph Griffin; and one daughter, Olivia Paige Griffin.Among those who remain to celebrate his earthly love, life, and eternal legacy are: his precious and devoted wife: Natalie Griffin; their beautiful children: Peyton and Bailey Griffin, of Las Vegas, Nevada; daughter: Lenita Gonzalez (Wilbert) of Nashville, Tennessee; his loving mother: Marjorie Strait; two sisters: Dale Arnold (BJ) of Sumter, South Carolina and Renita Reliford, of El Paso, Texas; five brothers: Allen Moton (Tessie) Melvin Moton, (Bianca) Reginald Moton, all of El Paso, Texas, Calvin Motonof Baltimore Maryland, and Shaun Moton (Sharon) of Killeen, Texas.His deliverance from this earthly realm also leaves a host of aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins near, dear and distant friends.As our hope sustains the peace to dominate our pain amid his physical separation from us,the truth of knowing we will reunite with him in the Presence of our Lord strengthens our resolve to live towards that end. Now absent from the body, the husband, father, son, brother, uncle, nephew, and friend we know as Frederick Joseph Griffin is now in the Presence of the Lord!Until the Reunion at the Return of our Resurrected Lord,let us celebrate the commendation he will hearin the words, “Well Done thou Good and Faithful Servant, Well Done!”