Edward Roy Griffith

Newport, - Edward Roy Griffith, 78, of 31 Rhode Island Avenue Newport, died Thursday, October 17, 2002 at Heatherwood Nursing and Subacute Center Newport, RI. Born in Newport, RI on June 27, 1924, he was the son of the late Roy E. and Grace Crane Griffith.Mr. Griffith served in the Army during World War II as a Heavy Machine Gunner and participated in the Normandy invasion and served in the Northern France and Rhineland Campaign. He was awarded the Purple Heart and the European African Middle Eastern Theatre Ribbon with three battle stars. He was a graduate of Rogers High School and URI where he received a major in History. Mr. Griffith was a teacher for thirty years with the Newport School Department from 1951 to 1981. He was a History teacher at Thompson Junior High School until his retirement in 1981. He played in the Sunset Baseball League, was an assistant coach on the Thompson baseball team and was a tennis player. He was a member of the Newport Teacher?s Association and the Rhode Island Teachers Association. He is survived by his sister Elizabeth G. King of Newport, RI, his niece Gayle Lee Larchmont of NY, and his nephew Roger King Jr. of Newport, RI. A Memorial service will be held on Thursday, October 24, 2002, at 11:00AM, in Trinity Church, Queen Anne Square, Newport. Burial will be private.In lieu of flowers donations can be made to the Robert Potter League for Animals, PO Box 412, Newport, RI 02840.