Charles Griffith

Charles Lloyd Griffith died May 23, 2023 aged 82 in Wichita Falls surrounded by his wife and children.

Charles is survived by his brothers Louis and Marty; wife Linda; daughters Lori LaShomb (Rickey), Amy Tyson (Vince), and Becky Jones (Kemp); grandkids Keila Mattiza ( Justin), Matt Tyson, Michael LaShomb (Lauren), Drew Tyson, Devon Bradley (Brandon), Blake Jones (Tori), Kate Tyson, Abby Tyson, Brooke Jones, Kamryn Jones; great grandkids Wyatt Bradley, Landreigh Bradley, Lincoln LaShomb, Holden LaShomb, and Hadleigh Mattiza.

Born August 17, 1940 in Haskell, to Lloyd and Wilma Dean Griffith, Charles was the oldest of four brothers. Growing up in West Texas, he left the family farm in 1958 to attend Texas Tech University where he earned a B.S. in Agronomy. While studying in Lubbock, Charles met Linda Joyce Hawkins, who was attending Hardin Simmons in Abilene with Charles’ cousin Joann. Linda and Charles exchanged letters for a year until he finally proposed in 1964. They soon moved back to Benjamin to start farming and a family of their own.

After farming for many years, Charles and Linda moved to Lubbock where Charles joined his alma mater and helped raise his growing number of grandchildren. Never far from his roots, he was an avid gardener who enjoyed sharing his knowledge of plants and the bounty of his garden with anyone who would listen. After retiring in Benjamin, Charles was known for hosting family and friends at his backyard pool, where he would proudly cannonball off the diving board.

Funeral were held at Benjamin Baptist Church on Friday, May 26. Burial followed at the Benjamin Cemetery under the direction of Smith Family Funeral Homes.

Online condolences may be shared with the family at www.smithfamilyfh.com.