Murray Shelton Griffin Sr., a member of the “Greatest Generation,” passed from this life on Wednesday, April 13, 2016. He was 92 years old.

He was a lifelong member of the Christian church.

Visitation will be at Utica Christian Church at 9 a.m. Friday, April 15, 2016, followed by services at 11 a.m. Interment will follow at the Griffin family cemetery. The Rev. Brad Hartzog, pastor, will officiate.

Murray was born in Utica on Sept. 16, 1923, the oldest of four sons to Charles Farris and Nora Shelton Griffin.

He attended Wise Consolidated School through eighth grade and graduated from Utica High School in 1941. Upon graduating from high school, Murray attended one year of college at Hinds Community College. In the summer of 1942, he had the opportunity to work with the U.S. Corps of Engineers in Greenville for one year, recording equipment work and down time while expanding the Greenville airport.

During the Spring of 1943, Murray decided to join the Army and serve his country during World War II, serving in the Asiatic/Pacific Theatre as a member of the 882nd Airborne Engineer Battalion and the 873rd Aviation Engineer Battalion participating in the New Guinea, Philippines and Okinawa campaigns.

Upon discharge from the Army in January 1946, Murray enrolled in Mississippi State University and obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in civil engineering in 1949.

He moved to Birmingham, Ala., shortly after graduation and began working for Virginia Bridge, a division of US Steel. During that time, he also met, in 1949, and later married, in 1951, Jeanne Hardy. In 1955, Murray became associated with The Rust Engineering Co./The Rust International Co., where he worked until his retirement until 1988 as senior project manager.

Murray’s lifelong dream was to return to his boyhood home of Utica and build an earth-sheltered home that he had designed over his working career. In July 1988, that dream became a reality when Murray and his wife Jeanne began construction on their underground home. He enjoyed many years working on the land that he grew up on as a young boy, recalling stories of how things were done back then and how much easier thing were now.

Upon returning to Utica, Murray became an active member of the Utica Christian Church, the Utica affiliate of Habitat for Humanity, and several local civic organizations. In 2005, he was recognized by Blue Cross Blue Shield as an “Ageless Heroes/Good Neighbor” recipient for the Central Region of Mississippi.

Murray was preceded in death by his wife of 63 years, Jean Elizabeth Hardy Griffin; his parents, Charles Farris and Nora Shelton Griffin; and brothers Charles Hudson Griffin and Thomas Eugene “Gene” Griffin.

Murray is survived by his son, M. Shelton Griffin Jr. (Natalie) of Richland; daughter, Diane Elizabeth Griffin of Florence; grandchildren, Murray Nichols Griffin of Augusta, Ga., and Charles Travis Griffin of Peal.

He is also survived by two great-grandsons, Charles Travis Griffin Jr. and Graham Parker Griffin; and brother Jesse Frank Griffin (Marsha) of Little Rock, Ark.

Pallbearers will be Nicholas Griffin, Travis Griffin, Tommy Griffin, Craig Griffin, Roger Templeton, Jason Griffin, Bob Lee Currie and Lowell Mims.

Memorials may be made to the Utica Christian Church, Gideon’s International or a charity of your choice.