WASHBURN – Lee “Ben” Edward Griffin passed away Nov. 1, 2010, at The Aroostook Medical Center, after a brief illness. Born in Lincoln, he was the son of George and Ella Griffin. He attended school in Lincoln and while a student at Mattanawcook Academy, he was the first to letter in five sports, but his true passion was baseball. He played pro baseball at the Farm League level for the Brooklyn Dodgers. He played professional baseball for several years and traveled throughout Europe on the Army baseball team. He joined the U.S. Army Aug. 16, 1950, and was discharged Aug. 14, 1955. He was a veteran of the Korean War and spent two years in Europe. While there he participated in the Freedom of Paris, 10th anniversary, with the 22nd Regimental Combat Team of the 4th Infantry Division. While in Europe he attended the University of Georgia and Husson College through the college programs of the U.S. Armed Forces Institute. He was a life member of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post No. 4154, Millinocket, and served as the commander from 1978 to 1979. He worked for Great Northern Paper Co. in the woodlands department, where he retired in 1983. He is survived by his wife, Mary; her two daughters, who he raised as his own, Kerry Gordon and her husband, Bob, of Fort Fairfield and Karen Shaw of Presque Isle; a daughter, Wendy Clisham and family of Texas; sons, Peter and Kirk Griffin of Kingston, N.Y., and their families; grandchildren, Todd “Sam” Martin of Rockland, Tiffany “Sloane” and husband, Carl Bindoo, of Dedham, Mass., and Chad “Chadrack” Shaw of Presque Isle and his special friend, Danna; and two great-grandchildren Portia and Victoria. He was predeceased by his parents; brother, Bruce; and son-in-law, Allan Shaw. The family thanks the nurses in the intensive care unit and the second floor at The Aroostook Medical Center for their kindness and excellent care of Lee. Also a special thank you to Dr. Sawyer and Dr. Williams for their compassion and warm, caring spirits. Relatives and friends may call 6-8 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 4, at Duncan-Graves Funeral Home, 30 Church St., Presque Isle. Funeral services will be held 11 a.m. Friday, Nov. 5, at Crouseville Advent Church, Crouseville. A reception to celebrate Lee’s life will be held after the service at Crouseville Mission Building. Interment will be at Hillside Grove Cemetery, Crouseville. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be sent to Crouseville Advent Church Building Fund, Crouseville, ME 04786 or the Allan R. Shaw Memorial Scholarship Fund, 175 Walnut St., Dedham, MA 02026. Online condolences may be made at www.duncan-graves.com.
LEE ‘BEN’ EDWARD GRIFFIN
