Richard Allen Griffith was born on July 3, 1955 in Eureka. He was the fifth child of seven born to Frank and Jewel Griffith. He passed on Thanksgiving night, Nov. 24, 2022 in Oroville of complications from heart disease.

Richard spent his early years in Eureka, where he attended Eureka City Schools. The family moved to Loleta in 1965. His early years were spent playing Little League baseball, participating in 4-H and running amok on the family farm. He’s credited with getting his sister Karen started in basketball by insisting that she be included in his 8th grade morning pick-up games when she was only six years old.

Richard graduated from Fortuna High School in 1973. He was an FFA member all four years, taking mostly livestock to the Humboldt County Fair. After high school, Richard joined the U.S. Navy and was a proud veteran. He served on the flight deck of the U.S.S. Enterprise and the U.S.S. Constellation. He enjoyed tours of duty that took him to South Korea, the Philippines and other places in Southeast Asia. Upon his discharge from the Navy he enrolled at College of the Redwoods, where he completed the welding program and graduated with honors. This led to several jobs in the area of heavy equipment repair, which he loved doing. Later he worked as a long-haul truck driver, which he also enjoyed a lot.

In his later years, he moved to Phoenix to be near his son, Dwight. He enjoyed the warm weather of Arizona, his dogs and being close to his son. Recently, he had moved to Oroville to be close to his daughter, Alyssa, and his grandchildren. He was a lifelong Democrat and always kept up on politics and enjoyed a lively discussion. He had a sharp wit and a great sense of humor.

Richard was a loving son, father, grandfather and brother. He loved his family deeply and enjoyed all the large family gatherings. With 24 aunts and uncles and a gazillion cousins there was always a lot going on in the family! He’ll be remembered fondly as the mechanical genius that he was — he loved anything with a motor.

Richard will be missed deeply, but will never be forgotten. The family would like to recognize and thank his daughter, Alyssa, for doing so much for him. He loved her so much and appreciated everything she did for him.

Richard was preceded in death by his son, Dwight (in 2021), his parents, Frank and Jewel, his brother, Donald, and his sister, Judy. Richard is survived by his children, Keeley Griffith (Ashley), Alyssa Hornsby and James Crist, along with grandchildren Peyton and Addie Hornsby, Aniyah Griffith and Garrett, Sawyer and Ingrid Crist. He is also survived by his brothers David (Susie) and Doug (Nancy) and sisters, K. Joan (Carol) and Karen (Marty) and a gazillion incredible cousins, nieces and nephews.

We will love and miss him forever. He truly was a “one of a kind!”

Services will be held at Sunset Memorial Cemetery in the chapel on Friday, January 27 at 2 p.m. with military honors. Cards may be sent to the family at P.O. Box 6732, Eureka, 95502. Memorial contributions can be made to the Judy Griffith Scholarship fund at the Humboldt Area Foundation.

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The obituary above was submitted on behalf of Richard Griffith’s loved ones. The Lost Coast Outpost runs obituaries of Humboldt County residents at no charge. See guidelines here. Email news@lostcoastoutpost.com.