Obituary of Mary Griffiths

Mary Becker Griffiths, 88, passed away peacefully on Dec 5th, 2015, after a long battle with Alzheimer's disease. Born on May 20th, 1927, the day that Charles Lindbergh flew the Atlantic, Mary had a lifelong fascination with flight. Her dream of becoming a pilot came true in 1969, when she took her first solo flight. But that was only the beginning. Mary went on to earn her instrument rating and compete in the last historic women's cross-country air race, the Powder Puff Derby. Mary graduated from Derham Hall and the University of Minnesota. She spent summers working in Glacier Park, where she met her future husband, Bob Griffiths. She loved to ski, play tennis and spend time at the cabin that she and Bob built in northern Wisconsin. Smart, capable, sweet and endlessly curious, Mary was game for anything. She could drill a well, throw a perfect dinner party, or stare down a charging elephant. She adored birds, especially cardinals and hummingbirds. Mary was preceded in death by her husband of 65 years, Robert H Griffiths, last May. She is survived by her two sisters, Helen Waldron and Carol Rogers; her four children, David Griffiths (Kathie), Annie Griffiths, Sally Anderson (Gary), Bobby Griffiths; grandchildren, Korin, Tomika, Malia, Eli, Lily, Isak, Dylan, Rosie, Charlie and Sam, and great-granddaughter Sophia. A Mass will be held at 11 AM on Thursday, December 10th at Christ the King Church, 5029 Zenith Ave S. Lunch will follow. Please wear something cardinal red. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to the charity of your choice