Seth T. “Buddy” Griffin, Jr.

Memorial services for Seth T. “Buddy” Griffin, Jr., of Lawrence will be held at 2:00 p.m. Friday, September 1, 2017, at Warren-McElwain Mortuary in Lawrence. Visitation will begin at 1:00 p.m., Friday, at the mortuary.

Seth T. Griffin, Jr., died at St. Luke’s Hospital on August 26, 2017, at age 91. Seth, or “Buddy” as many knew him, was a lifelong member of the agricultural community surrounding Lawrence. He was born on the family farm on February 5, 1926, the third child of Erma Karnes Griffin and Seth T. Griffin, Sr. He and his sisters, Dorothy and Ethel Mae, attended Fairview Elementary School, Lawrence Junior High, and Lawrence Memorial High School. At the age of 28, Buddy was drafted into the army. He took his army training at Fort Riley, Kansas, and then served in the 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. Returning home after the army, Buddy got a job as a Lawrence fireman. The day-on-day-off fireman’s work schedule allowed him to work the family farm as well. In 1985, he retired from the Fire Department after thirty years and devoted himself to the farm, where he worked until he was hospitalized on August 8, 2017. The farm was where Buddy was most spiritual.

Buddy belonged to many groups during his lifetime, but his family and community were the most important to him.

Buddy is survived by his wife of sixty-two years, Verma Jewell Griffin, whom he married on September 30, 1955, in Columbus, Mississippi, and by two daughters, Teresa Frances Griffin Guntert of Lawrence and Betty Sue Griffin Palmer of Holt, Missouri. Three grandchildren, the sons and daughter of Teresa and David Guntert (deceased), also survive him: Jordan Schyler Guntert of Lawrence, Ehern David Guntert of Dallas, Texas, and Tayler Frances Guntert of Aurora, Colorado. He is survived by four nieces and nephews. Linda Renner of Longbeach, California, and Larry Akin of Lawrence and Eudora are the children of Dorothy and Tom Akin. Nancy Jo Kazmaier of Owings, Maryland, and Gary White of Overland Park are the children of Ethel Mae and Harold White. Larry and Nancy Jo each have two children.

Memorials may be made in his name to the American Heart Association. They may be sent care of Warren-McElwain Mortuary, 120 W 13th Street, Lawrence, KS 66044.