The Rochester Sentinel 1996 - Fulton County Public Library

Clifton R. Griffith
Clifton R. “Cliff” GRIFFITH, 79, 1210A Park Road, died at 3:50 p.m Tuesday at Life
Care Center of Rochester.
Formerly of Monticello and Indianapolis, he drove race cars in the Indianapolis 500 mile
race and was pilot during WWII.
Arrangements are pendig at Foster & Good Fueral Home, Rochester.
Thursday, January 25, 1996
Clifton R. Griffith
Feb. 6, 1916 - Jan. 23, 1996
Services will be at 3 p.m. Friday at Foster & Good Funeral Home, Rocheter, for Clifton
R. “Cliff” GRIFFITH, 79, 1210A Park Road.
The Rev. David WELSH will officiate. Burial will be in the Rochester I.O.O.F.
Cemetery. Friends may call from 6-8 p.m. today and one hour prior to the service Friday at the
funeral home. The 500 Shrine Club of Murat Shrine Temple, Indianapolis, will coduct a White
Flag memorial service at 7 p.m. toight at the funeral home.
Mr. Griffith died at 3:50 p.m. Tuesday at Life Care Center of Rocheter. He was born in
Nineveh to Roy S. and Della DUGAN GRIFFITH. On July 5, 1983, in Louisville, Ky., he
married Donna SHEETS KEMPER, who survives. He was a resident of Rochester for the past 13
years, having come from Monticello. He lived most of his life in Indianapolis and managed
manufacturing plants for Ransburg Corp., Micro-Poise Division, Indianapolis. Upon retirement,
he played the accordion professionally.
He participated in the Indianapolis 500 Mile race four times, finishing in the top 10 twice.
He drove sprint cars in 1937 at Salem Fairgrounds Track, won the Midwest Dirt Racing
Association championship in 1946 and 1947, and built his own car, maintained it, and drove it to
27 consecutive wins in 1948. He has made many appearances at racig clubs as a guest speaker.
He was a member of the F&AM 729 Speedway, Scottish Rite Valley, Murat Shrie
Temple and the Shrine 500 Club, all of Indianapolis; Manitou Shrine Club, Rochester Eastern
Star, Indianapolis 500 Oldtiers Club, Winchester Indiana Oldtimers, William Grove Oldtimers
Club, and the Kentucky Colonels Other memberships included China-Burma-India Veterans
Association, charter member of United States Auto Club, AMA Motorcycle Club, ABATE
Motorcycle Club, Honda Riders Club, American Legion Post 81, Monticello, Kiwanis Club,
Rochester, and Trinity United Methodist Church, Rochester. He served in the U.S. Air Force from
1942-1945 ad had over 1,400 hours combat time and received the Distinguished Flyig Cross with
one Oak Leaf Cluster, Air Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters, and the Asiatic Pacific Theater
Ribbon with two Bronze Battle Stars.
Survivig with his wife are one foster-sister, Marie ALLEN, Trafalger.