Pat GriffithObituary Patricia King Griffith, a long-time resident of Dewitt and Fayetteville, died Monday April 23 in Falls Church, VA at the age of 86. She had moved there in 2011 to be close to her children when her health declined.Pat was a resident of DeWitt and Fayetteville for 50 years. She was a very active member of the DeWitt Community Church for all that time. Originally from Livingston Montana, Pat trained as a registered nurse in Iowa City after WWII. She married Stewart Griffith in 1948 and stayed at home with her four children until Stew?s sudden death in Syracuse in 1964. Pat gained her teaching certification that year, and worked at the Genesee Hills Elementary School as a school nurse/teacher until those positions were abolished. She loved working with the children and always said that was her favorite job. She worked as a psychiatric nurse at the newly opened Hutchings Adolescent Inpatient Center in Syracuse, from which she retired in 1987.Pat was an extremely active civic, political and educational volunteer and proud feminist. She was president or officer of many local organizations: School Nurse teachers? association, NYS Public Employees Federation, NY State American Association of University Women, the board of the SU Research Day Care Program, Planned Parenthood, the Girl Scouts, Central NY Interreligious Council, the United Way, the Women?s Political Caucus and she was active in local Democratic politics. Pat gave more than her time. She gave of herself in a never-ending series of causes ? wherever she thought she might be able to help. Pat?s passion was her cottage on the St. Lawrence near Clayton. Every summer, and as many weekends as possible, she zoomed up Rt. 81 to reach her back porch and watch life on the River.After her retirement, Pat took an African safari on her own ? and loved it. She also travelled to International AAUW conferences in New Zealand and The Netherlands. She loved to visit her grandchildren in England and Virginia. Pat is survived by her four children, Anne, Gail, Deborah and Spencer, and by her five grandchildren. In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate donations to the AAUW Educational Opportunities Fund, PO Box 98045, Washington, DC 20090.A memorial service will be held at noon Friday, May 4 at DeWitt Community Church.
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