Ronald Edward Griffis

Ronald Edward Griffis was born on November 9, 1942 in Columbia, S.C. to Robert and Clarise Hedgepath. After his mother remarried, his new stepfather, Linus Griffis, adopted Ron along with his older brother, Robert, and their name became Griffis.

As a young child, Ron lived in South Carolina and the Jacksonville, Florida area. His brother, Robert, older by 6 years, often took Ron into town on the bus to see the movies and eat hamburgers. This was probably the best thing to do with Ron since, up until the end of his life, Ron loved burgers and movies in addition to books and watching sports.

Ron lived in Oklahoma for a short while as teenager. He would hang out with his stepdad, an accomplished mechanic, at the garage, but eventually got a job nearby as a soda jerk. This was probably a good job for Ron considering how much he liked his Coke Classic. In the years after Irish Whiskey lost its appeal, Ron always had a cold can of Coke close at hand. If you gave him one that wasn’t actually all that cold, well, Ron wouldn’t complain or care because he wasn’t one to do that sort of thing.

At some point in his teen years, Ron moved back to Florida, where he graduated high school. This was followed by a short time in the Army, as was required of most young men his age.

Ron eventually made it back to Oklahoma and started a long career at Oklahoma Publishing Company (OPUBCO). Ron was in charge of paste up and worked overnight laying out all the text and photos. At the beginning of each sports season when there were big spreads with the player and team previews – that was Ron’s handiwork – and he was proud of that.

Ron did not let working the night shift at OPUBCO get in the way of watching sports or movies as he was the second person in Oklahoma City to own a VCR – and he had no problem programming it. Long after his days of working the night shift were over, Ron still watched sports on DVR and never became a morning person.

Most importantly, it was at OPUBCO where Ron met his wife of nearly 50 years, Rosemary. Except for Rosemary’s disdain for Ron’s favorite band, The Grateful Dead, they were perfectly suited for one another with a mutual appreciation for books, cooking, and the St. Louis Cardinals. With Rosemary’s encouragement, Ron joined the Catholic Church, and for many years they served as Sacristans and were very active at The Cathedral of Our Lady of Perpetual Help. During the last years of their lives, Ron put his own health and needs aside in order to take care of Rosemary the best he could.

If there was anything Ron would want you to know about him, it’s that he was super proud of his grandchildren. In Ron’s eyes, Joe, Ben, Mary and Maisie are always the smartest, most talented and best-looking kids in the room. Where many grandparents would be disapproving of the younger generation, Ron would be there to defend and champion these kids no matter what – taking Rosemary and parents to task if necessary. Even though Ron never had children of his own, later in life, he took the opportunity to show his ability to love others and embrace family in the role of “grandpa”.

Ron was predeceased by his parents and his spouse, Rosemary Griffis. Ron is survived by his brother Robert (Judy), stepchildren, John (Mary) Krodel, Andrew Krodel and Matt (Julie) Krodel and grandchildren, Joe (Kate) Krodel, Ben Krodel, Maisie Krodel and Mary Krodel, and great grand-child, Sam Krodel along with many nieces and nephews.

A funeral Mass will be held for Ron at The Cathedral of Our Lady of Perpetual Help on Friday, July 3, 2026 at 3PM.