Kennewick, WA - John (Bud) Otis Griffitts

Born December 27,1931 in Broadwater, Nebraska to Silence and Elmer Griffitts. He died January 5, 2025, at home in Kennewick, WA surrounded by his wife and children.

Bud was the oldest of five children. He was preceded in death by his parents, little sister Mae (age 2), Raymond (at birth), and Raymond's twin brother Richard who passed May 1st, 2023 in Lake Havasu, AZ.

Bud is survived by his baby sister Edie Griffitts Huffman, wife Lloydene Griffitts, children Greg and Cheryl Griffitts, Gaylin and Lora Griffitts, Dan and Linda Cornwell, grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Bud grew up in Hemingford, NE. He first met Lloydene when they attended high school at Platte Valley Academy.

During the Korean war Bud served as a medic at an Aid Station on the front lines. This was his first time traveling, and he was very impressed by the ocean voyage.

Returning to Hemingford from the war, he was reunited with Lloydene when her parents pastored the Seventh-day Adventist church in Hemingford. They were married June 17,1956. After the wedding they moved to Portland, Oregon for Bud to attend Radiology Technician school.

At the end of his studies, he was invited to join Dr. Milton Johnson and Dr. Wendell Ford at the Hermiston Medical Center in Hermiston, Oregon. Drs Ford and Johnson taught him how to perform basic laboratory tests, and he functioned as both an x-ray technician and laboratory technician at the clinic for several years, then just as an x-ray technician until he retired at the age of 65.

After his retirement, he began working at Good Shepherd Medical Center as an x-ray technician until he again retired at the age of 80 years when the necessity for computer skills got the better of him.

Bud was a family man. He went to work and came home. He enjoyed activities that involved the whole family. His Nebraska farm roots prevailed, and he worked with his children to grow a garden to feed the family, always had a milk cow, usually some goats, and for several years over 100 head of sheep. Lambing season was a family event where everyone got up several times during the night to bring new lambs and moms to the barn. Of course, the farm would not be complete without some chickens and a horse.

His greatest love and joy was Jesus. Jesus was Bud's best friend. He would take his Bible to work and between patients study his Sabbath School lesson. The day started with a short devotional and prayer at breakfast, and every evening, he gathered his family together for family worship which consisted of everyone talking about their day, expressing feelings, followed by a devotional reading then prayer. There was no TV in the home, so gathering to talk was the evening entertainment.

Bud's religion was not about following rules. Bud's religion was a natural expression of the love Jesus had shown to him. He expressed that love to others in the way he lived his life. Bud never gossiped, was quick to smile and laugh, looked for the best in others, always gave a full day's work. Right and wrong were black and white to him. If an activity had to justified, he simply wouldn't participate. He wanted to always live a life that pleased his best friend Jesus.

Bud is now resting and waiting for Jesus to return and call him from the grave. Bud always believed Jesus' return is very near. Bud's greatest desire is to see his family and friends caught up with him to meet Jesus in the air, and travel together to Heaven where we will never be parted again.

Memorial Service will be held on May 31, 2025 at 4 PM at the Hermiston Seventh-day Adventist church.