David Hamilton Griffiths

David Hamilton Griffiths, 85, died February 22, 2019 at the Hospice House in Greenwood, SC. He was born in Kasganj, UP India Nov 15, 1933. His parents, Walter Denison Griffiths and Margaret Hamilton Griffiths were Presbyterian missionaries from New York City, NY and Brownsville, OH who met and married in India.

Dave attended Woodstock School in Mussoorie, UP India through the 12th grade, then returned to Wooster College in Ohio for a degree in Chemistry, later earning an MBA from University of Pittsburgh. He worked for Owens-Corning Fiberglass for five years in Anderson, SC; 32 years for PPG fiber glass in Shelby, NC, Pittsburgh, PA, Lexington, NC, and back to Pittsburgh, before retiring early to consult with Fiber Glass Industries in Amsterdam, NY and companies in Saudi Arabia, Taiwan and China.

Dave’s major interests included singing Tenor (or sometimes bass) in various venues (First Presbyterian choir, Greenwood Festival Chorale and 20 + others over the years), photography, boating, flying and politics, including a year as President of the Independent Living Resident Council at Wesley Commons. He was a lifelong Rotarian and took great pride in their effort to provide humanitarian service throughout the world. Travel was another interest. A number of cruises took Joyce, his wife, and him to Athens, Turkey, Tahiti, and on the Mississippi, before rounding out with a two-month trip around the world including the UK, India (for the 150th anniversary of his school), Hong Kong, Australia, New Zealand and Hawaii.

Dave has enjoyed the past 12 years with Joyce at Wesley Commons and thanks their many friends for their love and support.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his first wife of 29 years, Jeanne Eskridge of Shelby and his brother, Hugh Griffiths.

David is survived by his wife of 21 years, Joyce Miller-Griffiths who was from Ballston Spa, NY; his two daughters, Meg Gillikin (Dave) (and granddaughter, Elizabeth) of Chesapeake, VA and Ellen Houts (Tom) of Palm City FL; his siblings,  Dr. Robert Griffiths of Pittsburgh, PA, Rev. Ruth Doyle of Batavia, NY and Marian Demcisak (John) of Hatboro, PA; step-children, Robert Morrissey (Ligaya), Karen Keevern (Frank), Lynn Zabala (Gerard) and Johanna Ostrander (Michael); brother-in-law, Charles Eskridge, Jr. (JoAnne); nieces and nephews, Mike Demcisak (Jan), Andy Demcisak, Suzanne Steinberg (Brian), Elizabeth Ashley (Scott), Sondra Scoins (Tom), Lisa Trahan (Ken) and Charles Eskridge, III (Monica); and many great-nieces and nephews.

A celebration of Dave’s life will be 2:00PM, Saturday, March 2, 2019 in Asbury Hall at Wesley Commons with Rev. Dr. Kyle Hite and Rev. Kathy Hudson officiating. The family will receive friends immediately following the service.

Memorial contributions, in memory of Dave, may be sent to Hospice and Palliative Care of the Piedmont, 408 W. Alexander Ave., Greenwood, SC 29646; First Presbyterian Church, P.O. Box 426, Greenwood, SC 29646 or to the Wesley Commons Foundation, 1110 Marshall Rd., Greenwood, SC 29646.

Online condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.harrisfuneral.com.

Harris Funeral Home and Cremation Services, Abbeville is assisting the Griffiths family.

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