Leona Helen Griffith
Leona Helen Griffith died Thursday,
July 16, a week after turning 92 years old. Born as the youngest
child of Frank and Lena Schmidt, she began a 64-year marriage in 1953
to Kenneth Jack Griffith, a union which resulted in the birth of 4
children.
She was a hardworking farm wife,
exemplary mother, and engaged church volunteer, but the role she
truly relished was that of school teacher. She taught first grade in
Preston, KS, before she married and stopped teaching while she raised
her family; but once her youngest child was in school, she
immediately focused on returning to the classroom.
Teacher requirements had changed by
that time, so she went right back to college and didn't stop once she
finished the minimum requirements, but completed a master's
degree-all while milking cows and raising children. Over the years,
she taught at multiple rural schools in the Newton area: Suncrest,
Pleasant Acres, and Walton. She loved teaching first grade and taught
hundreds of local children to read during the course of her career.
She was attentive to the needs of
students beyond the classroom and created the first latchkey before
and after-care program for students in USD 373 at Walton Elementary
School. The school board at the time was not ready to provide
funding, but she sought and received permission to begin fundraising.
Through soup suppers and other avenues, she found the funds to launch
the program that is now available to all children in the district.
Even after she retired, Leona kept
teaching as a substitute teacher and worked into her 80s. And even
then, her favorite thing was to engage with grandchildren,
great-grandchildren, and children at church, reading stories,
building towers with blocks, and playing make-believe with puppets,
dress-up clothes and anything else she could find. She ran the church
nursery for a period of time and directed children's programs.
Survivors include daughter Susan
(Elias) Agel of Oklahoma City, son Frank (Peggy) Griffith of Wichita,
son Thomas Griffith of Walton, daughter Sara Griffith (Breeze
Simmons) of Fallbrook, CA. She is also survived by 11 grandchildren,
Amanda & husband Drew, Kaitlin, Andrew, Keemia, Jacob, Kiana,
Scott, Megan & husband Alexander, and Tyler and four
great-grandchildren, Elijah, Abraham, Paul, and Mary Helen.
She was preceded in death by her
Husband Kenneth "Jack", parents, Frank & Lena Schmidt,
sisters Olga Conway, Velma Claassen, Lily Whitsett, and by brothers
Roland Schmidt and Alvin Schmidt.
Private services will be held gravesite
on Saturday. Viewing will be at Petersen Funeral Home, Newton, on
Friday evening, July 17, from 5 -7 p.m. Memorials may be directed to
Golden Plains Free Methodist Church or to Positive Tomorrows (school
for homeless children) in Oklahoma City.
1928 - 2020 (92 years)