Stanley Ray Griffin

Stanley Ray Griffin age 95 passed away at his home Saturday, December 27, 2025. He was born October 17, 1930 to the late Raymond and Olive (Jordan) Griffin in Streator, Illinois. He graduated from Cornell High School, Illinois State University, and Northern Illinois University. He served in the U.S. Army and was stationed at Fort Lee, Virginia. During a Saturday night out at the USO in Richmond, he met nursing student, Polly Fuller. They were married in Richmond in 1955 and then moved to Harvard, Illinois where Stan began his teaching career. The family moved to the Cincinnati area in 1960 where Stan taught in Rising Sun, Indiana and later in Seven Mile, Ohio at Seven Mile High School (later Edgewood Junior School). In his career, he taught business skills, social studies, and journalism. For many years, he was the teacher advisor for the student newspaper, Cougar Scratches. Stan retired from teaching in 1991. He then volunteered at Edgewood and the Lane Public Library. In his retirement, he also was a prolific writer for the Workers For Jesus Friends and Neighbors magazine. He wrote over 200 informative and historical stories, many of which are still online. In this way, he is continuing to teach both children and adults all over the world. In his spare time, his hobbies were reading, classic TV, and classic movies. He was a walking encyclopedia of historical facts, TV and movie trivia, and punctuation and grammar rules. Stan was a wonderful and supportive father. Throughout their childhoods, he drove his children to countless sports practices, horseback riding lessons, and school functions. He never missed a game or program in which his children were participating. As adults, they knew he was always there for them whether it was to proofread a writing assignment or to come to their rescue when they had car trouble. Stan is survived by two children Jeanne Griffin, Brian (Susan) Griffin; his devoted companion Doris Vanluit; family friends Tomio (Chikako) Fukumura and many other nieces, nephews, family, and friends. He was preceded in death by his wife Polly Griffin in 2003, his sister, Doris Jeanne Ayers, and two of his favorite nephews, Clayton Ayers and David Taylor. Stan’s family would like to thank his caregivers who were a tremendous help during the past four years: Dianna, Karen, Pat, and Jean of Colonial At Home, especially Jean who in the four years of being Stan’s Home Health Aide only called off one shift (due to illness), the Opal Team of Queen City Hospice: Kim, Sheryl, Jean, Chaplain Tommy, and Ania, and the Continuous Care staff of Queen City Hospice especially Chelsea who was there to help Stan and his family in his final hours. Thanks also to Stan’s primary care providers: Dr. Uma Santhanam of TriHealth and Lora Reece of WellBe. Special thanks also to Stan’s Edgewood Junior School family especially Ann, Cathi, Ward, and Earlene who, even after over 30 years of retirement, never let him forget that he was respected, appreciated, and well-loved. Services to be held at a later date. Online condolences may be left at www.weigelfuneralhome.com.

Tributes

Stanley Ray Griffin

October 17, 1930 - December 28, 2025