James B. Griffith

James Brandt Griffith, 102, of Fort Wayne, passed away Saturday, May 13, 2023.  He was born in Fort Wayne on April 11, 1921, the son of Lauren and Theresa Griffith. He was preceded in death by his brothers: John, Larry, Neil, Donald and Thomas Griffith, along with his sisters Virginia Hannum and Sister Mary Richard Griffith. James loved his siblings and his large extended family.  He was an IU Basketball and Notre Dame football fan.  He had a great love of music, was an avid golfer and enjoyed summers at Lake Wawasee. Each Christmas Day his Fort Wayne residence was home to Christmas. Family from across the nation and abroad would arrive for a day of giving, reminiscing and laughter, a tradition spanning over 100 consecutive years.  He loved vanilla ice cream and strawberry short cake. James attended St Jude Catholic and Central Catholic HS.  He earned a bachelor’s degree from Purdue and an MBA from the University of Michigan.  While at Purdue, he was a member of the Men's Glee Club, culminating with a performance at Carnegie Hall.  He was a member of several local choirs including the Cathedral and Fort Wayne Philharmonic. In WWII he was inducted into the U.S. Army serving in the 103rd Battalion, 7th Army in France and Germany.  Upon his return home he re-entered the service taking Flight Training School as a liaison pilot at Fort Sil, Oklahoma and Sheppard Field, Texas. James began his career as a mortgage banker with Colonial Mortgage Company and continued with Waterfield Mortgage as Executive Vice President until his retirement.  He served as past president of the Indiana Mortgage Bankers Association and on the board of the Housing and Neighborhood Development Association for the City of Fort Wayne. Faith filled, community conscious and deeply patriotic, James gave generously to many local and national philanthropic organizations.  He co-sponsored the James, Tom and Doris Griffith Fund at University of Saint Francis in Fort Wayne. James will be greatly missed by his nieces, nephews, great and great-great nieces and nephews as well as all who knew him.  Special thanks to the staff at Saint Anne Home for their care and all those whose lives were touched by knowing "Uncle James". Mass of Christian Burial is 10:30am Thursday June 1, 2023 in St. Jude Catholic Church, 2155 Randallia Drive, with visitation from 9:30-10:30 in the church. Burial in Catholic Cemetery with military honors. Arrangements through Divine Mercy Funeral Home, 3500 Lake Ave. The family’s preferred memorial is St. Mary’s Soup Kitchen, P.O. Box 11383, Fort Wayne  IN 46857-1383. To share a remembrance of James or to offer condolences to the family, please visit divinemercyfuneralhome.org.