Harry K. Griffin

Harry Kaufman Griffin

Age 90, of Penn Yan, passed away in peace at home on July 11, 2023.

The family will receive friends at Weldon Funeral Home, 102 E. Main St., Penn Yan on Friday (July 21) from 6pm-8pm.  A funeral mass will be held Saturday at 10:00am at St. Michael’s Catholic Church, Penn Yan; followed by burial and military honors at St. Michael’s Cemetery. 

He was born at Soldiers and Sailors Hospital on August 31, 1932 to Wallace and Jane (Kaufman) Griffin in Penn Yan NY. He attended Penn Yan Central School and was on the Academy Track Team. Harry won several first-place awards which assisted the team in winning several Track Meets. In 1949 Harry was awarded his letter for his accomplishments while on the track team, in 2020 the team was inducted into the Penn Yan Academy Hall of Fame. He graduated Penn Yan Academy and joined the US Air Force where he served 4 years as a Personnel Clerk. While in the service, he was awarded the National Defense Service Medal and the Good Conduct Medal.  On October 15, 1953 he married Genevieve Tripole. After returning home from the Air Force Harry worked for NYSEG where he was a Meter Reader/ collections, and later included checking meters to ensure they worked properly. He raised sheep, goats and rabbits for many years on his small farm just outside of town.  He supported his boys participating in 4-H.  Harry was very active in his community. He was a member of the Knights of Columbus and served as Grand Knight.  He was a devoted member of Our Lady of the Lakes (St Michaels Catholic Church).  In 1979 he opened his own business with his sons, Harry K Griffin and Son, where he started producing bagged Ice and selling his own animal feed. He had a grinder truck where his son would go to local farms and grind their grain into feed. As more and more feed stores came into the area, he was forced to stop grinding customer grains and started selling their feed out of their warehouse.  Harry worked at the business right up until his health declined and he no longer make it to the office.  Even when he could not make it to the office he was still in charge of what went on. When his warehouse burned, he immediately talked of rebuilding, so he could pass it down.  It is operating under limitations but feed and limited ice are still available. Harry was an avid donator to many worthy charities. He was placed on the VFW Honor Roll of Contributors for having given his wholehearted support to the V.F.W.’s worthy programs for Rehabilitation of Disabled Veterans and aid to veteran’s widows and orphans. In lieu of flowers, donate to your charity of choice, or save your money, so your family will be financially set when you pass. Harry is predeceased by his father Wallace and step-mother Gladys Griffin.  He is survived by his sister Francis Fox; sons Michael ( Linda) Griffin, Mark (Mariann) Griffin, and Greg (Kathy Hammond) Griffin; grandchildren Kimberly, Brittany, Delma, Andrew, Mark Jr, Mathew; and several great-grandchildren.

Those wishing to offer their condolences or share cherished memories can visit www.WeldonFuneralHome.com