Howard Gardner Griggs Sr.

Howard Gardner Griggs Sr., died Saturday at the VNA Hospice Unit in the Community Medical Center. His wife of 72 years is the former Emmaline M. Rodney.

Born in Glenburn on Oct. 21, 1917, he was the son of the late Charles W. and Leona Gardner Griggs. He attended Glenburn Grade School and Clarks Summit High School and took correspondence courses from Cornell University. His career with the Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Co. spanned 41 years, starting at Depot Street, to manager at State Street, to first personnel manager of the Scranton unit, to his final position as sales director of the Scranton division. He served 26 years as wage tax collector for Glenburn Twp. and spent many years working for and with his dear friend, Roger Dellert, who developed Woodcrest Estates and owned Justus Hardware.

As a member of Clarks Summit United Methodist Church, he served on many committees and the board of trustees. Other organizations that benefited from his participation were the Waverly Lodge 301, the Abington Heights School Board, and the Glenburn Sportsmen's Association, which he co-founded. He was named a Paul Harris Fellow as a rotarian and was awarded the 32nd degree by the Valley of Scranton's Keystone Consistory.

Also surviving are three sons, Howard Jr. and wife, Judy, Clarks Summit; Phillip and wife, Tia, Duryea; and Joseph and wife, Ruth, Ransom; and eight grandchildren. He was also preceded in death by two sisters, Myrtie Nourse and Ruth Degan; and five children, Phyllis, David, Jonathan, Richard and Louise Ann.

The funeral will be Wednesday at 10 a.m. at Clarks Summit United Methodist Church, 1310 Morgan Highway, with services by the Rev Judy Wanck, pastor. Interment will be in Abington Hills Cemetery. Friends may call Tuesday, from 4 to 6 p.m., at the Lawrence E. Young Funeral Home, 418 S. State St., Clarks Summit. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Clarks Summit United Methodist Church.