Milton Griffin

Milton Edward Griffin, 77 of Las Vegas, Nevada transitioned from this earthy world to be home with our Heavenly Father on May 19th, 2020 after a 20+ years long battle with cancer. Known as "Ed" to most, "Daddy" to his girls Barbara, Amy, and Toni, "Papa" and "Grandpa Ed" by his grandchildren, and of course "The Silver Fox" by his beloved wife of 35 years Lynn (Bailey) Griffin.
Born to Jessie Griffin, Sr. and Virginia (Jackson) Griffin on June 21st, 1942 in Shamrock West Virginia as a the son of a coal miner and Southern Baptist Minister, and one of 9 boys. Ed graduated from Chapmanville High School in 1961. Shortly after graduation he and his Mother Virginia traveled by bus to Las Vegas, NV to visit his older brother Jessie Jr., stationed at Nellis AFB with the US Air Force, who had just married his wife Dorothy. Ed decided to stay in Las Vegas. He got a job downtown at the Fremont Hotel and Casino as a short order cook and dishwasher and never looked back. His Mother (Jenny) informed Jessie Sr. to pack up their belongings, sell what he had to, and bring the younger brothers to Las Vegas as she and Ed were not coming back. There was very little work in West Virginia at the time other than the dangerous coal mines. Looking for better life for their Children, in 1961 Jessie Griffin Sr. packed up their belongings and moved out West with the rest of their boys to Las Vegas.
In Vegas at 18 years of age, with a fast car, Ed, his brothers, and teen friends would race every weekend possible at the local Henderson racetrack and St. George, UT race track. With the Sahara Hotel and Van's Auto Dealership as sponsors he ran on the National Index racing the fastest car in the area at that time, the "Grey Ghost" a 1963 Chevy Impala with a 427 engine. With sponsorship from the Riviera Hotel and Casino, in addition to The Sahara Hotel and Van's Auto Dealership, Ed won several trophies on the short track circuit with other Chevys including his favorite Chevy Corvettes. His favorite Vette was his 1967 Candy Apple Red stock Stingray Corvette with chrome side pipes and a big block hemi 427 engine that was blue printed and bored 30 over. Unofficially rate at 600hp Ed raced this beautiful Vette in the amateur stock category "just for fun". Known to his racing buddies as "Fast Eddie", and always the first off the blocks, Ed loved his cars and loved to drive fast!
Ed was very close to both his parents. Sadly not long after moving to Las Vegas, in September of 1962, he lost his father to cancer at the young age of 54, just 3 months after Ed's 18th birthday. Losing his father at such early age, Ed and his other 6 living brothers doted over their mother Virginia with loving protectiveness. He was known as "Dolly" to his her because of his beautiful thick dark hair, she was known to him as simply "Mommy". Ed was very close to his mother, calling her daily and visiting her several times a week. Every ounce a loving son of his mother, father, and of God. Ed loved our Lord and his family deeply, unconditionally, and perfectly.
Deciding to move on from his job at the Fremont Hotel and Casino for a better paying job to help support his mother and younger brothers, in 1962 Ed applied for a job with, and was hired by, the local telephone company for Las Vegas "CENTEL". He worked 8 years for CENTEL. During which time he performed various jobs from installation technician, to Nevada Test Site contract worker, to working on a fiber optics laser light research project with his very close friend and mentor, Jim Faub. Ed said he saw all the back hallways in Howard Hues casinos while installing the phone lines, and even had backstage viewing of many Las Vegas boxing matches in those days. Ed started working for Nevada Power Company February 11, 1974, when the Navajo 500KV line and Microwave sites were being built. In the summer of 1976 he and his family moved to Kanab Utah. Ed lived there 7 years managing the Nevada Power Company Lenkurt Analog Microwave radios until newer technology was installed in the early 1980's that didn't need weekly maintenance. Ed moved back to Las Vegas in 1982 and was promoted to Construction Foreman in 1990. He participated in the building of over 100 Nevada Power Company substations and most of their mountain top communication sites. Ed retired September 1, 2007. After deciding he was not ready for retirement, he hired on with CC&E and began working for the Power Company once again as a consultant through 2019. Ed worked a total of 46 years as an employee and contractor for Nevada Power Company where he built many close friendships with those he worked with.
Ed was cherished dearly by his family and friends. To know him was to love him. He a was kind, generous, loving, humble, selfless, giving, and caring man whose friends became family in his heart. His heart was as big as the heavens. Ed never spoke a harsh word about anyone. He was the true measure of a man. A mentor to many, a best friend to his brothers, a true brother to his sisters-in-law, a role model to his younger cousins, a protector, provider and hero to his children and grandchildren who loved him fiercely. He was the best, most loving "Papa" any grandchild could ask for, and the perfect love to his dear wife whom loved him perfectly in return. To Ed, his wife Lynn was his angel.
Ed was preceded in death by his Father, Mother, 2 eldest brothers who died in childhood: Henry Paul Griffin and Harold Eugene Griffin, his Sister-in-Law Vicki Griffin (wife of Johnny Griffin), and his youngest Brother James "Jimmy" Griffin.
He is survived his Wife: Lynn Griffin; 3 Daughters: Barbara Hall, Amy Griffin, and Toni Holt; 7 Grandchildren: Michael Hall, David Hall, Daniel Hall, Candace (Hall) Brown, Amara Myers, and Bailey O'Campo; (8) Great Grandchildren: Ciara Brown, Paityn Hall, Cylie Brown (08), Ethan Hall, Caitlyn Brown, Cydnee Brown, Rogan Hall, Archer Hall; 5 brothers: Thomas (and Clarice) Griffin, Jessie (and Dorothy) Griffin Jr., Jerry (and Bonnie) Griffin, Johnny Griffin, and Loren (Sug) Griffin; as well as his many cousins, nieces, nephews, and other extended family members.
Ed was an anointed soul who blessed all those who had the privilege of having him in their lives. His love for God was pure and never wavered. He loved his family completely and unconditionally, and he was loved without measure by his family in return. He will be deeply missed. His life is celebrated by those whose lives he touched who remain behind.