Wayne D. Griffiths

Wayne D. Griffiths, 93, died of natural causes at home surrounded by his loving family on August 27, 2026. He lived a long life defined by hard work, determination, service, and an unwavering sense of responsibility.

Wayne was the youngest of five children born to Zella Smith Griffiths and Henry Walter Griffiths at their home on Blair Street, Salt Lake City, Utah. His birth happened on Christmas Eve during a blizzard. Wayne lived for 52 years without an official birth certificate because the doctor’s car got stuck in a snow drift. This enabled Wayne’s mother to enroll him in public school at four-years-old.

Wayne Griffiths graduated from South High School and the University of Utah. Following his older brothers’ advice to enter the Armed Services as an officer, ROTC led him to becoming an Air Force pilot. During the Cold War, he flew the C-123 Provider cargo planes while stationed near Paris, France.

Following his military service, he worked for 31 years as an air traffic controller and supervisor for the FAA Administration, Salt Lake Air Route Air Traffic Control Center. Retirement did not suit Wayne, so he continued his “transportation career,” by driving SLC tour buses and Davis County school buses for eleven years.

Wayne and his wife, Barbara Ann Parry, shared more than six decades together. They raised a blended family that included Susan Kaye Griffiths Pynes of CA; Bonnie Ann Griffiths Garret of UT; Paul Wayne Griffiths; and Dean Michael Griffiths of UT. In 1982, they endured the heartbreaking loss of 16- year-old Paul in a car accident.

Wayne enjoyed golf, fishing, and traveling with Barbara throughout Europe and Israel. Another highlight was owning a boat and water skiing with his family at Pineview Reservoir. Wayne took enormous pride in building and maintaining his home and yard. He was fiercely independent into his 90’s when, to the chagrin of his family, he climbed onto his roof to clean the rain gutters.

Wayne lived through parts of ten decades. He experienced the eras of Model T’s and self-driving cars, the invention of computers and artificial intelligence, and the observations of the first American in space (1961) and the first man to walk on the moon (1969).

All who knew Wayne will remember his work ethic and dedication, his intelligence and thriftiness, his resilience and stubborn determination, his sense of humor and “gift of gab.” Most importantly, his children will remember him as “Dad.”