Charles Grey Griffith

Charles Grey Griffith went home to be with his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, on Tuesday, October 6, 2026, at the age of 89. Born on December 1, 1936, in Ryan, Oklahoma, to Ora Mae (Ball) and Doyce Aldy Griffith, Charles lived a life defined by unwavering faith, hard work, and unconditional love for his family and friends.

Growing up on a farm in Nocona, Texas, Charles moved to Oklahoma City at age ten. While attending Southeast High School, he met the love of his life, Connie. The high school sweethearts were married on May 6, 1960. Charles attended two years at Central State College in Edmond, Oklahoma and one year at University of the Oklahoma before joining the US Air Force in 1958, and following an honorable discharge, he enjoyed a 38 year career as a civilian logistics specialist for the US Army.

In 1967, Charles and Connie packed up their young family and headed west to Arizona for his work at Fort Huachuca in Sierra Vista. They first settled in Benson for five years and later, they made their home on the east side of Tucson, becoming faithful members of 22nd Street Baptist Church. A true man of God, Charles put his faith into practice daily. Soft-spoken, kind, humble, and deeply compassionate, he served as a church deacon, mentored youth, directed the young married Sunday school department, participated in mission trips to Mexico, Chile, Russia and faithfully distributed God’s Word across the community and the world with Gideons International. He lived out Christ’s love not just in words, but through endless acts of service to anyone in need.

Hardworking and adventurous, Charles' job took him around the globe but his family was always at the center of his heart—he never failed to send a postcard home to his mother or a love note to his beloved wife. To offset the cost of the long commute to work Charles obtained his Commercial Driver's License and drove a chartered bus to Ft. Huachuca and back for many years. That little side hustle turned into a post retirement job with BeeLine bus company where he drove tour groups, school sports teams. and many church groups to their destinations and back. Also in retirement Charles and Connie owned a Baskin Robbins Ice Cream store for ten years.

At home, Charles was a resourceful handyman who loved woodworking, fixing anything that broke, and tinkering with his 1956 Ford truck. An avid outdoorsman, he enjoyed hunting deer, javelina, and elk, as well as hiking, camping, jogging and bicycling. He rarely missed a game cheering on the Arizona Wildcats, the Oklahoma Sooners or the Dallas Cowboys. Yet, some of his fondest moments were simple weekly traditions: Friday night pizza and Sunday night popcorn.

Above all, Charles was an extraordinary husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather.

Charles is survived by his wife of 66 years, Connie Griffith; son, Jeffery Griffith (Lorie); daughter, Mistele Bloom (John); eight cherished grandchildren: Desiree Griffith, Zachary Griffith, Drew Griffith, Dane Griffith (Emmalee), Zoey Bloom, Jack Bloom (Samantha), Charlie Bloom (Alexandria), and Grace Ann Bloom; and five beloved great-grandchildren: Selah, Elisia, Parker, Mylah, Aaron, and his brother Ted Tate;. He was preceded in death by his parents and brother Bob Tate.

A memorial service celebrating Charles’s life and faith will be held at 1:00 PM on Saturday, November 14, 2026, at 22nd Street Baptist Church, 6620 E. 22nd Street, Tucson, AZ 85710

In lieu of flowers, donations can be sent to: Gideons International, PO Box 140800, Nashville, TN 37214-0800 https://gideons.org/donate