Bill Text: AZ HCR2044 | 2018 | Fifty-third Legislature 2nd Regular | Enrolled
Bill Title: Death resolution: Minnie A. Griffin
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 6-0)
Status: (Passed) 2018-03-14 - Transmitted to Secretary of State [HCR2044 Detail]
Download: Arizona-2018-HCR2044-Enrolled.html
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House Engrossed |
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State of Arizona House of Representatives Fifty-third Legislature Second Regular Session 2018
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HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 2044 |
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A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
on the death of Minnie A. Griffin.
(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)
Minnie A. Griffin passed away on February 4, 2018 at the age of ninety-six.
Born on October 12, 1921 in Stoughton, Massachusetts, Minnie grew up with her family in New England during the Great Depression years. After graduating from Brookline High School in 1939, she attended a Western Union training school to learn how to use the teletype machines and paste the messages onto telegrams, and began working for the company in Boston. She remembered the December 7, 1941 bombing of Pearl Harbor as a frightening and terrible day; the war soon became close and personal to her through her work at Western Union sending telegrams to the family of soldiers who were killed or missing in action.
Wishing to do more to serve her country, Minnie enlisted in the Women's Army Corps in 1943. She attended basic training, radio training school and overseas training before being assigned to the 8th Air Force post in Watford, England. There, she was responsible for reporting the weather conditions in Germany and the English Channel to military bases throughout England so that the fighter planes could determine their missions.
It was while stationed in Watford that she met Jimmy Griffin, a soldier from Globe, Arizona. The couple began their relationship and worked together at the Watford base, then continued their courtship over the next couple of years as she was sent to work in France and Belgium. They were reunited when she was transferred back to England, and the two married on June 11, 1945 in High Wycombe, England.
In October of that year, Minnie received an honorable discharge from the military. Her admirable service to her country earned her medals for serving in the European Theatre of Operations and in the Battle of the Bulge. She soon set sail for home aboard the Queen Mary, leaving Jim behind in England. On returning to the United States, Minnie was overcome with emotion at the sight of the Statue of Liberty in New York Harbor, something she thought she might never again see. A month later, Jimmy returned to the states as well, and the two traveled by train to Globe, Arizona, which became her beloved home for the next seventy-two years. In Globe, she happily embraced the ranch life; she served as owner of the Griffin Cattle Ranch and as a member of the Gila County Cowbelles.
After raising her six children, Minnie worked at Gila Pueblo College as administrative assistant to the dean for fifteen years. She loved music and had a wonderful sense of humor. She enjoyed going to the casino and cajoled many friends and family into taking her there. Minnie was dearly loved by all who knew her and leaves a legacy of courage, humility, faith and strength.
Dedicated to her family, Minnie will be deeply missed by her children, Linda, Sue, JoAnn, Therese, John and Janet, her nineteen grandchildren, twenty-one great-grandchildren and two great‑great‑grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband, Jimmy Griffin, parents, Chester and Christine Cummings Keeler, brother, Chester, and elder sister, Minnie Keeler.
Therefore
Be it resolved by the House of Representatives of the State of Arizona, the Senate concurring:
That the Members of the Legislature sincerely regret the passing of Minnie A. Griffin and extend their sympathies and condolences to her family and many friends.
UNANIMOUSLY ADOPTED BY THE HOUSE MARCH 13, 2018.
UNANIMOUSLY ADOPTED BY THE SENATE MARCH 13, 2018.
FILED IN THE OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY OF STATE MARCH 14, 2018.
