Gene Edward Griffin's Obituary
Gene Edward Griffin, age 78, passed away at his home in Tulsa, surrounded by his family on Saturday, February 10, 2018. He was born on December 1, 1939 near Huntsville, Arkansas to James and Betty (Lewis) Griffin. Gene graduated from Clarence High School at 16 and joined the Air Force in 1957. He was posted to Strategic Air Command in England for the majority of his service and became a Christian during that time. Gene met his wife, Carolyn Sanders, in Pasadena, California in 1962 through The Navigators, a college campus ministry. They married in December 1964 and together had five children. They both felt a deep calling to be involved in ministerial and missionary work. Throughout his life, Gene found opportunities to pursue his calling while working. Gene held several management positions as he and his family travelled and lived across the United States. In 1969, they moved to Israel to live on a Kibbutz. After returning from Israel, they settled in Oklahoma City in 1971 for Gene to take a position as the Director of Youth Activities at Christian Center. While living in Oklahoma City, Gene completed a Business Administration degree at the University of Central Oklahoma; graduating in 1974. Later that year, Gene accepted a position as an Assistant Vice President at National Bank of Tulsa. In July 1974, the family moved to the Tulsa house that would become their home for the next 40 years. While in Tulsa, Gene joined his good friend Chuck Farah, a professor of Theology at Oral Roberts University, in a collegiate ministry outreach at several local universities. Gene eventually left his position at National Bank of Tulsa to take a full-time position as the President and Director of Insight Ministries. In 1988, while still working in ministry, Gene enrolled in the University of Tulsa, College of Law. He graduated in 1991 and donated his time for pro-bono legal work to the non-profit Neighbor-for-Neighbor for the next two years. Gene eventually opened his own law practice in 1995 and practiced until December 2017. During that time he also spent a year serving as an Assistant Municipal Judge for Tulsa County. Throughout his more than 40 years in Tulsa, Gene developed many deep friendships as he put both his pastoral and legal callings at the service of those in need. In addition to his work and vocation, Gene was an avid reader, debater of theology, and Pinochle enthusiast. He always carried the roots of his rural Missouri childhood with him: never turning down a fishing trip, a game of pool, or the chance to go to an auto auction. He loved a garden-ripe tomato with salt, especially the yellow ones. Gene loved to tinker: whether it was working on cars or patenting a device to improve how hourly workers clocked-in and clocked-out. Gene is survived by his wife, Carolyn; four daughters, Liesa, Genyce, Catherine, and Elizabeth; and his son Charles; 17 grandchildren; and 5 great-grandchildren. A Memorial service will be held on Tuesday, February 20, 2018 at 10:00 AM at Sharp Chapel, 800 S Tucker Dr, Tulsa, OK.
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