By Deborah Larsen
Leonard Weston Griffin
Leonard Weston Griffin was born in Decker, Michigan, on March 13, 1917, the son of Charles and Rosanna Knapp Griffin. Leonard grew up in Avon Township, where his father worked as a supervisor at the Ferry Seed Farm, located south of the village of Rochester. He attended Rochester High School and graduated in the class of 1936. After high school, Leonard worked at the Burroughs Adding Machine Company in Indianapolis. He married Jean Fowler in Indianapolis in 1942.
In May 1942, Leonard enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Forces. He was trained as a bomber pilot and received his commission as a second lieutenant in 1943. He flew “The Hump” between India and China in B-24, B-25, and B-26 aircraft, and was awarded the Air Medal. Leonard was discharged from military service in March 1946.
After the war, Leonard resumed his employment with Burroughs Adding Machine Company and completed a total of 45 years of service, retiring to Jupiter, Florida, in 1977.
Leonard Weston Griffin died at age 84 on March 18, 2001, and was laid to rest in Martin County, Florida.