David Rodman Griffith, 70, of Charleston passed away Tuesday, August 4, 2026 at CAMC Memorial Hospital due to complications from his paralysis after a life well lived.
He was born September 20, 1955 in Charleston, WV. A son of the late, Thomas Clyde and Elizabeth Ella (Pennington) Griffith. Also preceding him in death were his brother, Tommy Griffith and nephew, Joshua Hackworth.
David was a graduate of George Washington High School class of 1973. He retired from Verizon Telephone Company with 30 years of faithful service. He was a member of the Telephone Pioneers and International Sports Jamboree for the Disabled. David played competitive sports for CAMC Challenged Athlete, participating in wheel chair basketball, track and field and tennis, shooting and archery. David was also a former volunteer fireman for Loudendale Fire Dept.
He was a member of the Loudendale Freewill Baptist Church. He and his brothers sang in Griffith Gospel Singers Christian Group.
David was a ray of light. His smile, his personality and his kindness all emanated from a light inside of him. He lived a life of challenges but he took hardship and made it bend to his advantage. David made friends easily and those friends from church, work and sports and even the healthcare workers he came to be friends with remained dedicated to him throughout his life. He had a personality that drew people to him and when he was introduced to Trena, a beautiful woman who would become the love of his life, the two of them together made this world so much wonderfully brighter.
David loved his family dearly and he loved a good party too. He would look forward to every holiday because he knew that all his favorite people would gather together to celebrate together and enjoy delicious dinners. And his holiday shirt collection would grow. He loved to go on adventures, whether that meant going to a park to watch a beautiful sunset or ice cream shop to get an ice cream cone, he just loved the ride with his beloved Trena. He had a zest for life and nothing could stop him. They both loved to travel the country.
David passed away 52 years to the day after a devastating car accident which left him paralyzed. But he used the challenge which resulted from that tragic moment on that day to positively impact so many other lives. He has gone home to where we all long to be. His spirit is with Christ and now has a perfect body and we will see him again. He’s fine and loved and he’s just waiting for us to come home someday too. What a joyful reunion that will be.
Those left to cherish his memory include his loving wife of 18 years, Trena Kay (Hackworth) Griffith; nephews, Matthew Griffith (Heather) of Elkview and Thomas Lee Griffith of Waynesboro, VA; niece, Christina Foltz (Ryan) of Front Royal, VA; great nephews, Aeden Griffith (Riley) of Huntington, Nicholas Foltz and Lochlan Griffith (Elisabeth); great niece, Lauren Foltz; great great niece, Shiloh Griffith; brothers-in-law, Ken Hackworth (Beth) of Ripley and Brad Hackworth of Glasgow; sister-in-law, Lisa Griffith of Waynesboro, VA; aunt, Jennie Pennington of Charleston; beloved cat, Annie and a host of other family and friends.
The family would like to thank Lydia Smith and Amanda Hackney for all their love and support through the years.
Funeral services will be held at 1:00 PM., Saturday, August 15, 2026 at Good Shepherd Mortuary, South Charleston with Rev. Chuck Pennington and Pastor Richard Riffe officiating. David will be laid to rest in Cunningham Memorial Park, St. Albans following the services.
Family and friends will gather for a time of visitation two hours prior to the service at the mortuary.
In lieu of flowers the family suggests sending donations to: WV42 ISJ C/O Kathy Hess, 332 New Street, Bridgeport, WV 26330.
Good Shepherd Mortuary, 335 Fifth Avenue, South Charleston, WV 25303 has been entrusted with the arrangements.
