Former Chesterton
resident Richard C. Griffin, 74, of Highlands Ranch, CO, passed away
peacefully at home on December 10, 2020, after a fast-growing lymphoma
cancer resurgence.
He was born
November 12, 1946, in Valparaiso, Indiana, to Frank Oliver Griffin, Sr. and
Betty Louise Bednar Griffin.
He married Sheila
Walters on August 15, 1992, who survives.
He is also survived
by his daughters Kristin (Rod) Spearman and Karin Griffin, his four beloved
grandsons Kyle and Scott Spearman and Devon and Drew Heywood, three brothers
Robert (Juanita), Frank Oliver, Jr. (Shawne), and Craig (Michelle), a sister
Darlene Griffin, all in Colorado, a sister-in-law Judy Griffin of Las Vegas,
and his ex-wife Linda Dalton of Chesterton, Indiana.
He was preceded in
death by his parents and brother Nick Griffin.
Rich graduated from
Chesterton High School, Chesterton, Indiana, in 1964. He was an outstanding
quarterback and led the 1963 CHS Trojans to an 8-2 record. Early in that
season, he suffered a concussion in a game, which resulted in double vision.
To compensate, he wore a patch on one eye for the rest of the schedule,
earning a bit of notoriety for overcoming what could have been a
season-ending injury.
He graduated from
Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana, and earned a CPA degree from the
University of Illinois in 1974.
He was an Army
veteran, serving as an E5 Sergeant whose primary duty was paying soldiers
who returned from Vietnam. Rich was honorably discharged in December of
1971. He served as CFO of Ken-Caryl Ranch Home Development from 1973-78. He
also started an oil/gas exploration company before turning his full
attention to accounting. In 1995, he founded Taxtime, a tax accounting firm
in Centennial, Colorado, that provided expert tax analysis and preparation
for hundreds of clients until he sold the company and retired in 2013.
Rich was an
outstanding athlete and played fast-pitch hardball well into his 50s. He was
also a musician and an avid golfer who truly enjoyed rounds with his wife
and friends to demonstrate both his athletic skills and accounting acumen.
Most golfers do not even realize that you can amortize, depreciate, and even
write-off strokes! He loved Colorado and its magnificent outdoors,
backpacking on horses and hunting game in the Rockies. He tried helicopter
skiing in Canada and even indulged in a sky diving adventure.
But the greatest
delights of his life were his daughters and grandsons. He was a very
hands-on grandfather, keeping the boys busy making sure grandpas yard was
always beautiful. He also played baseball, hockey, and golf with the kids
and took the time to teach a few guitar chords to those who were interested.
Indeed he lived a
full and active life and will be missed by his numerous family and friends.
