Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 5, at Our Savior Lutheran Church in Monroe City for Billie Joe Griffin Sr., 83, of Monroe City. 

Rev. Kenneth Schamber will officiate. 

Burial with full military rites will be accorded by VFW Post 4240 at St. Jude Cemetery in  Monroe City. Mr. Griffin will be laid to rest with an avenue of flags and a motorcade escort by The Patriot Guard Riders. 

Mr. Griffin died at 1:17 a.m. Monday, Nov. 2, 2009, at Harry S. Truman Veterans Hospital in Columbia. 
Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at the James O’Donnell Funeral Home in Hannibal.
Mr. Griffin  was born Jan. 18, 1926, in Monroe City, to John William and Nellie Mae Scott Griffin.

He was married to Delores M. Reagan on July 30, 1950 in Hannibal, Missouri.  She died April 1, 2003.
Survivors include one daughter, Hollie (Cecil) Bastian, Center;  two sons, Billie Joe (Debbie) Griffin, Jr. of Thompson; David Griffin and friend, Lisa Ruby, Monroe City;  two brothers-in-law, Marvin (Cecil) Reagan and George McKinney, both of Monroe City; and one sister-in-law, Willa McKinney, Monroe City.    He is also survived by seven grandchildren, 12 great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews

He was preceded in death by his wife and his parents; one grandson, Joshua Bastian and six brothers and sisters
PFC. Billie Joe Griffin was a US Army Veteran of World War II. He received his training at Fort Riley Kan. in the Horse Calvary, fought overseas and with the Chinese Combat Command and was a  volunteer soldier of the historic Merrirls Marauders on a Burma India Tour. He was awarded the Bronze Star, four Bronze Campaign Stars and an accommodation medal along with numerous other service awards.
He was fondly known in the Monroe City Community as “old man.” Mr. Griffin followed his military enlistment with employment at the Peoria, Ill. Caterpillar Company and The Rocket Truck Stop. He retired from Kuhlman Die casting in 1989.   He enjoyed tinkering with small engines, enjoyed a good hunting dog, traveling with his wife, playing with his grandchildren and visiting over coffee in the early mornings with his friends.
Memorial contributions may be made to Our Savior Lutheran Church or the Alzheimer’s Association in care of the James O’Donnell Funeral Home.
Pallbearers will be Dennis Lorenson, Jr., Patrick Minter, Cecil Bastian IV, Trey Paul Gander, Phillip Cheek, Bobby Roe, Michael Roe, and Marlin Reagan.
Online condolences may be made at www.jamesodonnellfuneralhome.com.