Mark H. Griffith

Former East Washington Police Chief, Mark Harper Griffith, 66, of Washington, died Wednesday, January 2, 2019, in Donnell House. He was born February 3, 1952, in Monongahela, a son of the late Clinton William Griffith and Dorothy Harper Griffith. Mr. Griffith graduated from Charleroi High School in 1971.  He enlisted in the Air Force on January 18, 1972, and was honorably discharged on January 16, 1976, with a rank of Sergeant.  Mr. Griffith was awarded a National Defense Service Medal and Good Conduct Medal. A police officer for 38 years, he served the City of Washington from 1977 to 2002, and East Washington Borough from 1983-2015, first as a part-time officer, then as the borough’s Chief of Police. Mr. Griffith was a member of First Lutheran Church, Fraternal Order of Police, American Legion Edwin Scott Linton Post 175, Fraternal Order of the Moose, and Fraternal Order of the Eagles.  His hobbies included coin collecting, fishing, hunting, and boating. On August 9, 2004, he married Susan Sanders, who survives. Also surviving are two sons, Anthony Griffith of St. Louis, Missouri, and Seth Griffith of Abilene, Texas; four daughters, Amy Sanders, Shannon O’Bryan, and Danielle Dyson, all of Washington, and Shannon Lynn of Charleroi; two brothers, Thomas (Sharon) Griffith of Fallowfield Township and James (Natalie) Griffith of Alabama; four sisters, Cathy Paterra, Robin (Craig) Meny, and Wendy (Donald) Zippay, all of Fallowfield Township, and Merri Beth (Harry) Allen of Bridgeville; 12 grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews. Friends will be received from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m., Monday, in William G. Neal Funeral Homes, Ltd., 925 Allison Avenue, Washington, where funeral services will be held at 11 a.m., Tuesday, January 8, 2019, with Rev. Robert Grewe officiating.  Burial will follow in National Cemetery of the Alleghenies, Cecil Township.  Military rites will be accorded graveside by American Legion Edwin Scott Linton Post 175. A Fraternal Order of Police service will be held at 7 p.m. Monday in the funeral home.