Henry L. Griffith

Henry L. "Hank" Griffith, life resident of Kehorst passed away November 13, 2015 at Berks Heim where he had resided since February 2015.

He was predeceased by his wife, June A. (Goodman) Griffith, who died August 5, 2013 having celebrated 65 years of marriage.

Born July 17, 1925 in Lewistown, PA, he was the son of the late Herbert L. and Hilda M. Griffith.

Hank was a 1943 graduate of Mt. Penn High School.

He enlisted in the United States Navy at the age of 17, serving from 1943 to 1946 during World War II on a destroyer escort ship.

Hank was employed by Bell Telephone Company as a PBX repairman for 35 years before retiring in 1982. He was also the Central Division president of Federation of Telephone Workers of Pennsylvania for eight years. Upon retirement he worked part time for the Berks County Courthouse from 1987 to 2000.

He was a life member of the Kenhorst Fire Company serving as head trustee for 14 years, Clover Park Athletic Association, Adamstown VFW and 18th Ward Democratic Club.

Hank was a member of Berks Democratic Committee for 30 years, serving as Financial Secretary and Vice Chairman. He was also a former president of the Kenhorst Democratic Club, a delegate to the Democratic National Convention in 1976 and former candidate for the 128th legislative district. He was a past delegate and vice chairman of United Labor Council of Berks County. He served as a member of the Board of Trustees for the Wernersville State Hospital as well as the Board of Directors for the Guidance Institute. He was a member of the Reading Stadium Commission and Reading Phillies Community Board. He was an active volunteer for the Reading Fightin Phils primarily serving as the program seller and was awarded the Jim Pollock Award for his 26 years of service.

He was an original member of the former St. Matthews U.C.C., now currently known as One United Church of Christ, Kenhorst.

He is survived by his children, Deborah S., wife of Ronald D. Hutson, Coatesville and Alan L. Griffith, Bringantine, NJ, and daughter-in-law, Virginia A. Griffith, Shillington. He is also survived by his grandchildren, Nicole Samuels, Michelle Blanding, Melissa Kuester, Matthew Griffith and Christopher Griffith; great-grandchildren, Andrew Blanding, Caroline Blanding, Connor Samuels, Jackson Samuels, Catherine Samuels, Williams Samuels, Ella Kuester and Anna Kuester and siblings, James Griffith, Donald Griffith, Marjory Reichert, Rosemary Killian and Barbara Frey.

Hank was predeceased by his brothers, Richard A. Griffith, Charles Griffith and Robert Griffith.

A memorial service will be held Saturday, November 21, 2015 at 10 a.m. in the Edward J. Kuhn Funeral Home, 739 Penn Ave., West Reading with burial to follow at Forest Hills Memorial Park. A viewing will be held on Thursday, November 19, 2015 from 5 to 8 p.m. and Saturday 9 to 10 am in the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to Baseballtown Charities: P.O.Box 15050, Reading, PA 19612-5050. Online condolences may be recorded at www.kuhnfuneralhome.com