The Family of
George Washington Griffin & Mary Elizabeth (House) Griffin
George W. Griffin Mary Elizabeth (House) Griffin
1883 - 1947 1885 - 1981
George Washington Griffin ("G.W.") was born on May 14, 1883 on his grandfather's farm in Milam county, Texas. He was the son of Joseph Griffin ("Joe") and Susannah Elizabeth Edwards ("Susan"), who were pioneer settlers of the Val Verde community in Milam county. They had moved from Van Zant county in east Texas to Milam county. George had five brothers and four sisters. G.W. went to Thomas Arnold school (High School or Academy) in Salado, Texas. The school superintendant offered G.W. a chance to stay with him and go to school, but he felt like he needed to stay with his parents.
On December 30, 1885, G.W.'s future wife, Mary Elizabeth House ("Bettie") was born in Pontotoc, Mississippi; they were married on November 29, 1903 by a Rev. Lewis at the Methodist parsonage in Milam county.
VI. Mary Elizabeth House ("Bettie"): She was born on December 30, 1885 in Pontotac, Mississippi. She married George Washington Griffin ("G.W.") on November 29, 1903 in Milam county, Texas at the Methodist parsonage. G.W. was born on May 14, 1883 (?) on the family farm in Milam county, Texas (?). His parents were Joseph Griffin and Susannah Elizabeth Edwards. G.W. Griffin's family moved to Milam county, Texas from Van Zant county in east Texas. Three places G.W. and Bettie resided in Bell county were: Salado, Val Verde, and Belton. G.W. died on October 24, 1947; he is buried in the North Belton cemetery in Belton, Texas. Bettie (House) Griffin died on November 21, 1981 at Crestview Manor Nursing Home in Belton, Texas and is buried in the North Belton cemetery. They had the following children:
The Children of G.W. & Bettie Griffin:
A. Ivy Griffin: She was born on November 28, 1904. She was Baptist by faith and schoolteacher by trade. Ivy died in 1948 in either Milam or Bell county, Texas; she is buried in the North Belton cemetery in Belton, Texas. She married Lynn Moore on December 24, 1928. They had children.
B. Pearl Griffin: She was born on February 15, 1907 east of Salado,Texas in Bell county. She was a teacher by occupation; she was of the Methodist faith at first, then became affiliated with the Disciples of Christ church soon after her marriage in 1929. Her family attended the First Christian Church in Belton, Texas. She married Martin Van Digby ("Mart") on December 7, 1929 at the Methodist parsonage in Belton, Texas. Mart was born on April 1, 1907 at home in Santa Anna, Texas in Coleman county. He worked as a clerk and ran "The Car Mart" in Belton for many years. He was in the Civil Service at Fort Hood in Killeen, Texas during World War II. His religious faith was at first, Baptist, then later was Disciples of Christ. Mart died on August 22, 1966 at Scott and White hospital in Temple, Texas and was buried the next day at 4:00 pm in the North Belton cemetery in Belton, Texas. His parents were William Seaborn Digby ("Will") and Mattie Minerva Wallace ("Mattie"). Mart and Pearl had children.
C. Jewell Griffin: She was born on September 30, 1910 near Salado, Texas. She married Hubert Johnny Elsik on September 8, 1934 in Temple, Texas in Bell county. He was born on February 3, 1908 in Burleson county, Texas. He was a public school administrator; they have resided in Snook, Amarillo, Killeen, and Houston, Texas. He was an instructor at Air Cor during World War II. He is a member of the Christian church. He died on February 24, 1963 in a Houston hospital and is buried at Memorial Oaks cemetery in Houston. His parents were John F. Elsik and Teresa Kocurek. Jewell's occupation was that of a registered nurse. She was an Episcopalian in 1979, but later became Methodist. They had children.
D. LaRena Griffin ("Rena"): She was born on August 15, 1914 near Salado, Texas in Bell county. She married Carl Alfred Shine ("Alfred") on May 25, 1935 at the Everett Boarding House in Teague, Texas. He was born on April 24, 1914 in Belton, Texas. He was a telegraph operator by occupation and Methodist by faith. His parents were James Edmond Shine and Ella Kirchner. Alfred had another wife named Lucille Barach. Rena was also Methodist and a telegraph employee. She died on March 22, 1985 in Waco, Texas and was buried on March 25th in Waco Memorial Park. They had children.
E. Georgia Ruth Griffin ("Georgia"): She was born on February 24, 1924 in Val Verde, Texas. She married Arnold Roen; they met when she worked at the Air Force base in Waco,Texas. Georgia later worked at the Registrar's office at Mary Hardin Baylor College, which helped pay for their children's education. Georgia was a musician, did oil painting, and was a housewife. For a period of time, Georgia worked for Glenn Blair at his office at Hill Top Courts; she had a desk in the back room of his office and helped with bookkeeping. The death of Carol, her youngest child, was very difficult for her. They are Baptist by faith and attend First Baptist Church in Belton, Texas. Georgia died at the end of 2016; her funeral was at First Baptist Church in Belton, Texas where she and Arnold were very active. It was stated at this service that they had written down their life story for their family. Craig Pearson spoke at the service. The Pearsons were Swedes and the Roens were Norwegian. Arnold and Mr. Pearson would "go at it" all the time in fun with a twinkle in their eyes. Pastor Andy Davis said that one of Georgia's most memorable quotes regarding Arnold was, "Don't get him started". Arnold had a great sense of humor, was a wonderful storyteller, and a great mechanic/ handyman.
Georgia and Arnold had the following children:
1. Janet Roen:
2. Karen Roen:
3. Carol Beth Roen: She was born on October 18, 1952 and died on April 20, 2006 after many years of struggling with a brain tumor. She was cremated and her ashes were spread among the wildflowers in her back yard.
F. Virginia Doris Griffin ("Doris"): She was born on October 9, 1928 at home in Val Verde, Texas. She married Kenneth Herrington on October 20, 1951 at First Baptist Church in Belton, Texas. He was born on October 12, 1927 at home in the Killeen, Texas area. He was an M.P. (Military Police) in the Army for eighteen months. His parents were Felix Harvey Herrington and Sarah Manurvia Burris. They had children.
