James Griffin

Harold was born in Nashville on January 10, 1923. He lived in the Inglewood area and was the youngest of three boys. He was very industrious in his early teens delivering newspapers in his neighborhood and raising and training bird dogs. He saved his money and paid for private flying lessons in his teens, along with attaining Eagle Scout status. He also enjoyed hunting and golfing from an early age.
He graduated from Isaac Litton High School in 1941 and spent a year in Knoxville at the University of Tennessee. He left his schooling behind and joined the United States Army Air Corps in June of 1942, seven months after Pearl Harbor, but they did not call him to report until Nov., 1942. After a few months of training, at age 20 he began his service to this country as a pilot of a B-17 bomber. He was stationed in England and commanded a crew in the accomplishment of 34 combat missions or 279 hours in hazardous weather and enemy attacks in Europe, Normandy and German Campaigns. His plane once returned with only 3 gallons of gas left in the tank. He miraculously returned from the war with no physical injuries and an Honorable Discharge with a suggested civilian job conversion as a commercial airline pilot, but he had had his fill of flying and opted to return to college and graduated from Vanderbilt University with a civil engineering degree.
He spent 30 years with the Bridge Division of the Highway Department for the State of Tennessee-the latter years as Chief Bridge Designer.
Harold was a member of the Inglewood Methodist Church and a Sunday school teacher of teenage boys for a few years. He loved to spend time on the Gulf Coast and his trips there in the last few years with Dolores, Leigh Anne, Alan and Rachel were his delights.
He was a child of the depression, learning the lessons passed on by his parents-he is certainly a great representative of the "Greatest Generation" a group growing fewer each year. He placed great importance on integrity and honor and lived his life with both.
He was a good man, a gentle man, a loving and generous husband, father, and grandfather. His daughter, Leigh Anne, was a great joy to him and they shared that special bond between fathers and daughters. He welcomed Alan as her husband and loved him too. Of course his granddaughter, Rachel Anne, born seven years ago became a bright light in his life, and she loved her "Papa."
Harold's faith and beliefs were evident by the way he lived his life. The strength, support and love he exhibited to those in his life will never be forgotten.