Don Eason Griffin was born on June 3, 1920, in Landour, India. where his parents, Don Wallace Griffin, and Clara Belle (Eason) Griffin, had gone as missionaries.

When Don was 2 years old, his family returned to the U.S. Over the years, Don attended schools in Ohio, Kentucky, and Maryland. He graduated from Towson High School in Towson MD in 1937. He then went on to college and seminary. He graduated from Western Maryland College and Westminster (now Wesley) Seminary, both in Westminster MD. He was ordained as a minister in the Methodist Church in 1943.

In his 40 years of active ministry, Don served Methodist churches in nine parishes. The churches he served in Iowa were: Rippey, Malvern, Norwalk, Dysart, Manning, Hubbard, and Klemme. He retired in 1983.

While serving his first church, which was in Washington D.C., Don met Mary Frances Lunceford. They were married in 1945. Together they raised a daughter and four sons.

In 1953, Don moved his family to Iowa. He enjoyed small-town life. He was a volunteer fireman and member of the Lions Club. He liked to help out on farms during harvest, doing anything from hog butchering to driving a tractor. He was also a good musician. He played flute and organ and had a fine singing voice.

In 1983, Don retired from active ministry. He and Frances moved to Leisure Lake near Trenton MO. He often filled in as a temporary pastor and was proud of the mission work trips he and Frances made to England, Senegal, Costa Rica, and Peru. In 2007 they moved to Lake City IA to be closer to family as their health declined. Don passed away peacefully on February 2, 2023.

Don was preceded in death by his wife Frances and an infant son Dennis. He is survived by daughter Marquita Klaver of Lake City and sons Douglas (Lyn) Griffin of Springfield OR, Darrel (Brenda) Griffin of Georgetown KY, Duane (Linda) Griffin of Waseca MN, and Kevin (Diane) Griffin of Pinckney MI. He has seven grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren.

Don donated his body to the University of Iowa. A memorial service is being planned for later in the spring.