O.D. Griffin, Jr.
October 1, 1923 ~ October 8, 2003
Resided in:
Asheville, NC
Asheville Butterfly Trail
Asheville ~ O.D. "Lacy" Griffin, Jr., 80, of Briarcliff Drive, died Wednesday, October 8, 2003 in The Oaks at Sweeten Creek.
A native of Buncombe County, Mr. Griffin was a son of the late O.D. Griffin, Sr. and Myrtle Winchester Durham.
Mr. Griffin was owner and operator of Asheville Flying Service and also served as a member of the Asheville Airport Authority.
Survivors include his wife, Margaret Schreyer Griffin of the home; two sons, Paul R. Griffin of Arden and L. Michael Griffin of Asheville; two grandchildren, Kyle R. Griffin and Lacey Marie Griffin and a sister, Annie Laurie Lovelady of Hendersonville.
A funeral service will be conducted Saturday at 11:00 AM in the chapel of Groce Funeral Home at Lake Julian on Long Shoals Road with the Revs. David Parks and Ed Hillman officiating. Interment will follow in Calvary Episcopal Churchyard.
The family will receive friends Friday from 6:30 - 8:30 PM at the funeral home.
Those wishing to honor his memory may make a memorial to the charity of their choice.
Lacy Griffin, friend to many, gentleman to all, fun to be with, eapecially on the golf course.
He will be missed by all who knew him.
I will always remember my first ride in the right seat of the Beech 18 with you. God Bless
I am so sorry for your loss. My husband, Ted, always spoke so well of Lacy. Sincerest sympathy to all.
JUDY MCCANN – WIFE OF A SILVER EAGLE – PIEDMONT
Flyin West, by Michael J. Larkin
I hope there’s a place, way up in the sky, Where Pilots can go, when they have to die.
A place where a guy could buy a cold beer. For a friend and a comrade whose memory is dear.
A place where no doctor or lawyer could tread.
Nor a management type would e’re be cought dead!
Just a quaint little place: kind of dark, full of smoke.
Where they like to sing loud, and love a good joke.
The kind of place where a lady could go.
And feel safe and protected by the men she would know.
There must be a place where old pilots go.
When their wings get too weary, and their airspeed gets low.
Where the whiskey is old and the women are young.
And songs about flying and dying are sung,
Where you’d see all the fellows who’d flown west before,
And they’d call out your name, as you came thru the door,
Who would buy you a drink, if your thirst should be bad
And relate to the others, ‘He was quite a good lad!’
And then thru the mist you’d spot an old guy. You had not seen in years, though he’d taught you to fly.
He’d nod his old head and grin ear to ear, And say ‘Welcome my son, I’m pleased that your’re here!’
For this is the place where true flyers come. When the battles are over, and the wars have been won. They’ve come here at last to be safe and afar.
From the government clerk and the management czar,
Politicians and lawyers, the feds and the noise,
Where all hours are happy, and these good old boys,
Can relax with a cool one, and a well-deserved rest!
This is Heaven, my son, you’ve passed your last test!
Dear Lacy, as you know by now, you’ve got over 70 Piedmont Pilots with you up there right now. It must be some type of homecoming!
Your family and grandchildren are blessed and we’ll watch after them down here as you watch after them up there.
Simper Fi,
Piedmont Silver Eagles
Piedmont Pilots
My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family, Margaret.
To a friend of all pilots and their families, especially the Piedmont pilot family, I salute you, sir. We become comrades in our love of aviation and the goodness it brings in our lives and the lives of others. As a Piedmont Silver Eagle and pilot for 34 years I know that a lifetime of devotion to this profession is immensly rewarding. Seeing your name come on internet traffic for our organization is alone a testament to your character and the love and respect you gave to our family of pilots. May we all meet up with you in the hands of Jesus Christ in eternal life. Rick Rohas F/O Airbus 320 PHL US Airways
Lacy and Family
As I grow older I find the gift of true friendship to be one of the most valuable gifts of life. Lacy is a true friend to me and all who knew him. The help and encouragement he gave to dozens of fledging aviators throughout a long and wonderful career is a gift, not only to them, but to the community and world. I wish you clear skies and a smooth ride on the other side.
Greg Gibson
VP Flight Operations (Retired)
U S Airways/ Piedmont Airlines
May your flight west be the best of all,the wind at your back,sky blue,and calm. Farewell old friend and fellow QB. Your buddy Jack
Marg…
Our thoughts and prayers are you. I’m using my daughter’s email address to send this message. Please let me know how you’re getting along. My address is 811 North Harrison Street, Arlington, VA 22205
Thinking of you,
Teeny
Lacy was a very special person. I always enjoyed being around him and talking with him. Because of him I got my pilots license. I will always remember him and his wonderful wife Margaret.My family and I send our deepest condolences to Margaret,Sons and Grandchildren.Love, Michael,Patricia and Lindsey Brock.
I remember the days in the 60,s. He and I in that old TwinBeech 18 of his called 117XRay with its wicker bambo interior that was a left over from the glory days of aviation. 900 raw horsepower!!! On take-off when the props hit the governors at about 60 kts. they flattened out and made a chainsaw supersonic sound that could be heard all the way to to the top of Bearwallow Mountain while carring 6 passangers in comfort in the back cabin. Me and Lacy in that noisy cockpit just skimming the hills in the climb with ice forming on the windshield that would soon melt as we leveled off toward our destination of Raliegh. I looked over at Lacy who displayed his typical confident smile . Flying 101 .We woke up everybody from Fletcher to Gerton that 6am morning probably causing a mini-baby boom back then. Just one of the thousands of memories I hold in my mind of this icon of a man ,Lacy Griffin. Loved by many,respected by all!! Go to heaven a shouting Lacy!! Thanks for everything you did for us.
To the Griffin family – I am so sorry for your loss. Lacy was such an inspiration to all who knew him.
Ann Kiser Fagan
Lacy was a good friend and a great fellow to work for. He will be missed.
Lacy, you always welcomed the Gerber pilots each time we landed in Asheville. I will remember you always. the most special time was when Rev. Billy Graham came into your office and you introduced us to him. Your Beech 18 was perfect and I always knew you loved that Ocean 41 boat in Wilmington. Rest easy old friend and peace be with you.