Robert (Bob) Griffin

Robert Andrew Griffin passed away January 23, 2024, in Georgetown Texas. Bob was born August 19,1935 in Kirbyville, Texas, to Grace McManus Griffin and Andrew Griffin. Bob graduated from Kirbyville High School in 1953, where he played football and ran track. He was offered a partial football scholarship to Lamar in Beaumont. He opted instead, with the wisdom of his seventeen years, to enlist in the Air Force. Due to the results of his test grades the recruiters wanted him to wait six weeks for some specialized training. Grumbling in the hall as he left the office, an Army Master Sargent called him over and advised him he could have him in boot camp in a week. His father had to sign up for him to train as a paratrooper. The Armistice was signed after his gear was already packed and he did not go to Korea.

He enrolled at the University of Texas in 1956 to study Petroleum Engineering. Nearing his 1961 graduation he switched to Ceramic Engineering due to a soft job market in the oil and chemical industry at that time. Not wanting to live in a cold climate after having a job interview in Cleveland, Ohio, in December he worked in safety. His first job was with Texas Employers Insurance which had him on offshore oil rigs, cotton gins etc. He qualified for his Professional Engineer License in 1969. When the FBI did a security check in Kirbyville prior to giving Bob top secret clearance  it caused quite a stir. He worked at Kelly Air Base before returning to Texas Employers. When OSHA was created Bob was recruited by one of his former colleagues at Texas Employers. When Bob retired in 1999, he had served as Area Director for OSHA in Little Rock, Houston, Tulsa and headed the Region 6 Voluntary Protection Program. After retiring from OSHA, he formed a company that consulted in safety and health with international oil and chemical companies and NASA. 

After moving to Georgetown, Texas, Bob was involved with the Kiwanis Club of Sun City, Palace Theatre, Friends of the Georgetown Symphony Society, Central Texas Philharmonic and served as a volunteer on the Code Enforcement Committee.

Bob was predeceased by his parents, stepdaughter Cindy Cofer and former wife Grace. Survivors are wife Alexia, daughter Karen Barnett, stepdaughter Cheri Thompson and seven grandchildren and eight great grandchildren.

 At Bob’s request there will not be a memorial service but a graveside service at Central Texas State Veterans Cemetery 1163 State Hwy 195 Killeen, Texas, in early March.