Rev. Ralph James Griffith

Rev. Ralph James Griffith, 82, of Sterling, went home to be with the Lord on Monday, April 1, 2024 at Ohio’s Hospice LifeCare after a period of declining health.

Ralph was born on Feb. 16, 1942 in Clay County, WV to William H. and Lillian (Brannon) Griffith and graduated from Clay County High School.  On June 25, 1960 he married Louise Holcomb and she preceded him in death on Nov. 15, 2019.  Ralph retired from Ford Motor Co. in 1996 after 33 years of service and pastored nearly 60 years having pastored the Island Road Free Will Baptist Church in Grafton and First Free Will Baptist Church in Rittman.  He was a member of Canaan Free Will Baptist Church and was active in Nursing Home Ministry.  Ralph enjoyed hunting, fishing and time spent with family and friends.

Surviving are his children and their spouses, Allen and Sherri Griffith and Glenn Griffith of Rittman, Sherry and Ron Geiser of Burbank and Paul Griffith of the home; 7 grandchildren, Brien (Tori) Griffith, Ben Griffith, Bo (Sarah) Griffith, Justin (Amanda) Griffith, Jan (Mat) Bing, Stephanie Geiser and Bre (Jarrod Cox) Geiser; 12 great-grandchildren; 1 great great-granddaughter; sisters, Ann Reed and Janice (Melvin) Reed of Quaker City, OH, Vivian Keener of Rittman and Sheila Pauli of Akron.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Louise; son and daughter-in-law, Todd and Becky Griffith, daughter-in-law, Sherry Griffith; brothers, Dale and Warren Griffith and brothers-in-law, Calvin Reed and Larry Keener.

Services will be Friday at 11:00 a.m. at Canaan Free Will Baptist Church with Rev. Aaron Bailey and Glenn Griffith officiating.  Burial will be in Hillcrest Memorial Gardens.  Friends may call Thursday from 5-8 p.m. at the Church and one hour prior to services on Friday.  In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Free Will Baptist Family Ministries, 90 Stanley Lane, Greenville, TN 37743. 

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