Galen O. Griffee (Griff), 84, of Athens WV, passed away on Wednesday, April 26, 2017. He was born on July 11, 1932 in Minot, ND to Edgar & Lucille Aubol Griffee. He was a Navy veteran, serving during the Korean War, after which he settled in Colorado. He married his wife, the former Sharon H. Smith on August 13, 1960 in Pueblo, CO. He graduated from New Mexico State University in Las Cruces in 1965 after completing the engineering co-op program with White Sands Missile Range. He continued to work as a mechanical engineer for White Sands until his retirement in December 1989. He moved from Las Cruces to Athens WV in 2003.Griff obtained a pilot's license before a driver's license. He also learned to fly glider planes at the age of 16 with the CAP in Switzerland. While living in CO, he built & raced hydroplanes and was an avid skier and member of the ski patrol. He enjoyed a lifetime hobby of building and flying antique model planes. After his marriage, he enjoyed travel, visiting all 50 states, many in an RV. He vacationed in Europe several times, especially enjoying Norway, the country of his ancestors.The center and love of his life was his family. In addition to his wife, Sharon, he is survived by his daughters Karen H. Griffee (Rod Klein) of Athens WV, and Cynthia Griffee Antone (Joseph Antone) of Kennesaw, GA. and his grandchildren Haley Augustson (Alex Feith), Sophie, Hunter, & Maya Klein and Mattie Antone, sister Janice Roche of Galveston, TX, Lavon Saunders (Donald), Ankeny, IA, Nancy Foster (Donald), Hotchkiss, CO, and brother Alan Griffee (Sharon K.) Colorado Springs,CO.He was a member of St. Luke Lutheran Church, Beckley.A memorial service for Griff will be held 4:00 P.M. Sunday, April 30, 2017 in the University Point Chapel, Concord University, followed by a gathering of family & friends for food and reminiscing at the Griffee/Klein home, in Athens.Memorials can be made in the name of Galen O. Griffee to the Concord University Foundation Inc. for the Student Food Pantry, P.O. Box 1405, Athens WV 24712.Online condolences may be shared with the family via www.memorialfd.comThe Griffee family is being served by the Memorial Funeral Directory & Cremation Center on the Athens Road in Princeton.