Roy Joe Griffin

of Melbourne, Arkansas

Roy Joe Griffin, son of the late Joseph Franklin Griffin and Haney Cooper Carthen Griffin, was born August 30, 1926 in Gainesville, Texas. He departed this life December 26, 2018 in Greenbrier, Arkansas at the age of 92 years, three months and 26 days. After the death of his mother when he was five, he spent much of his childhood in the Woodmen Circle Home in Sherman, Texas. During World War II at the age of 17 he enlisted in the United States Navy. After his service, he attended Hardin-Simmons University in Abilene, Texas and earned a degree in chemistry. He taught high school chemistry for one year, and then became a certified medical laboratory technologist. He continued laboratory work at Gaston Hospital in Dallas, Texas while putting himself through dental school.  He married JoAnn Iske on August 27, 1955 in Odessa, Texas. He earned his Doctor of Dental Surgery degree from Baylor University College of Dentistry in Dallas, Texas in 1957. In 1968 they moved to Melbourne, Arkansas, where he continued his dental practice, retiring in 2015 after 57 years. Joe's hobbies were reading, health, lifting weights, hiking, camping, boxing, target shooting, and working on his farm.

He is survived by one son: Paul Griffin (Sherilyn) of Fayetteville; two daughters:  Susan Puckett of Greenbrier and Amy Weaver (Terry) of Fayetteville; seven grandchildren: Brandi Weaver, Kristin Weaver, Luke Weaver, Erich Puckett, Alex Puckett, Lauren Puckett, and Shelby Kordsmeier; two great grandsons: Greyson and Henry Kordsmeier and many other relatives and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife; three brothers: J. C. Johnson, Homer Griffin, Jack Griffin; three sisters: Rachel Barrett, Ruth Barron and Axilda Chamberlain.