<p><strong>LONDON, KY</strong> - The industry is bidding farewell to one of its own. George Washington "G.W." Griffin, 85, passed away Dec 19, 2011, from complications of pneumonia. Mr. Griffin was a U.S. Navy veteran, joining Laurel Grocery, the wholesaler, in 1950. He served as its president for 34 years, retiring in 1997. The industry veteran was a board member of Cumberland College, National-American Wholesale Grocers Association, Kentucky Chamber of Commerce, Appalachian Computer Systems, and Kentucky Grocers Association, just to name a few of his many activities. He was an initial inductee into the Kentucky Grocers Hall of Fame.<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"> Griffin is survived by his wife of 53 years, Elizabeth Park "Sis" Griffin; his sister Margaret Fouts of Lacey, Wash.; as well as three children and five grandchildren. Donations can be made to George W. Griffin Charitable Scholarship Trust, PNC Institutional Investments, 1900 East 9th Street, Cleveland, OH 44114, attn: Lauren Middleton.</p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">
