Thomas Allen Griffith

Thomas Allen "Tom" Griffith Jr., a longtime Cashmere resident and orchardist, died on January 4, 2017 at Bonaventure in East Wenatchee. He was 90. Tom was born on July 23, 1926 to the late Thomas A. and Myrtle (Balsdon) Griffith at Wenatchee, WA. He took part in football and basketball and was one of the star players of the team, Tom graduated from Cashmere High School in 1944. He then joined the US Navy, training at Farragut then attending radio school at Los Angeles before going with his ship to the Philippines at the end of WWII. Upon discharged, he enrolled at Washington State Collage and obtained his Bachelors degree. During this time, he met and fell in love with Betty Hummel; they were married in August of 1951 at Wenatchee. Their first home was in Chelan where Tom worked in the fruit industry as a consultant. In 1961, Tom, Betty and their children moved to Paton Street in Cashmere, which was there home until 2015. Tom took over his father's orchard property and immersed himself in running and growing the best fruit possible for 50 years. The last years from 1989-2015 Tom and son, John, ran the family orchard business together, which freed Tom and Betty to enjoy time together and travel the world. An Avid Duck Hunter, Tom and his loyal four-legged companions enjoyed many hours sitting and waiting behind the duck blind for that perfect shot. He was a member of the Masonic Temple of Free Masons and The Cashmere Sportsman Association. In later years, as time slowed downed, he could be found in the mornings drinking coffee with his friends, solving the world's problems, and chatting up the school athletes and various other topics at Barneys Tavern and the Club Crow. Tom is survived by his wife of 65 years, Betty; children, Thomas III ( Marilyn), Michelle "Shelly" (Alan) Kaas, John (Karen); three grandchildren, Ryan Kaas, Megan (Mario) Borgna, Leah Griffith and two great grandchildren, Marshal and Marcus Borgna. He is preceded in death by his sister, Shirley Scott, brother in-law Howard Scott and daughter in-law Lori Griffith. Funeral and Military Services will be held on Friday, January 13, 2017, 11:00 am at the Riverside Center in Cashmere with burial following at the Cashmere City Cemetery. You are invited to view his online guestbook at www.HeritageMemorialChapel.com . Arrangements are in the care of Heritage Memorial Chapel, Cashmere.

Thomas Allen Griffith

July 23, 1926 - January 4, 2017