Robert Dallas Griffin

Robert Dallas Griffin, 76, of Kernersville, North Carolina, passed away peacefully after a courageous battle with lung cancer. Born in High Point on June 14, 1949, he graduated from High Point Central High School in 1968. A man of deep Baptist faith, Bob was a longtime member of First Baptist Church in High Point and cherished attending Green Street Baptist Church, where his father had been a member. He found great joy in singing in the church choir and in gospel music, particularly the harmonious sounds of the Statler Brothers.

Bob proudly served his country as a United States Marine with the 1st Marine Division in Da Nang, Vietnam in 1970 and later with the 3rd FSR in Okinawa, Japan. After receiving an honorable discharge in 1972, he continued his service in the U.S. Air Force, where he trained in aircraft electrical and electronic repair and served four years at Chanute Air Force Base in Rantoul, Illinois with the 3345th Maintenance and Supply Group. There he was honored as “Airman of the Month.” Following his discharge in 1976, he enjoyed a long and distinguished career in technical fields, beginning with Hewlett-Packard as a Medical Field Service Representative. He later worked for Western Electric and AT&T in Winston-Salem, advancing to roles as a technical training instructor, manufacturing troubleshooting representative, customer representative manager, and quality inspection auditor. He was subsequently transferred to AT&T Federal Systems Advanced Technologies in Greensboro, where he developed training courses and provided technical support for U.S. Navy personnel, as well as engineering contractors with General Electric and Hughes Aircraft Corporation. He retired from AT&T/Lucent Technologies in 1996. In later years, he worked as a Senior Technical Writer at B/E Aerospace in Winston-Salem and as lead writer for the U.S. Marine Corps Cougar program at Force Protection Industries in Ladson, South Carolina during the conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq. He continued contract technical writing for companies including Banknote Corporation of America and R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company. An avid aviator, Bob was a licensed private pilot who loved flying and all things related to aviation.

He was deeply devoted to his beloved dogs—Daisy, Duke, Joshua-Paul, Chelsea, Ray, and Pudding—whom he considered his children. A longtime supporter of the ASPCA, he found immense joy in caring for animals, taking them on walks, and playing with them. Bob was preceded in death by his father, James Paul Griffin, Sr., his mother, Opal Davis Griffin, his sister-in-law, Sharon Oakes Griffin, and his nephew, Shaun Ludwig. He is survived by his wife of 33 years, Cathy Hyatt Griffin; his brother, James Paul Griffin, Jr. (Ellen) of Melbourne, Florida; his sister, Rhonda Hunter (Darryl) of High Point; his daughter, Janice Barnes of Greensboro; his son, Thomas C. Griffin (Miki) of Herndon, Virginia; and five grandchildren, Ian Barnes, Ava Sharron (Indigo) Barnes, Eryn Barnes, Kendall Griffin, and Shoei Griffin. A generous and compassionate man, he quietly supported the United Way, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, the Shriners Hospitals for Children, and the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews.