‘A hard act to follow.’ Quiet and effective Bradenton leader Buster Griffith dies at 98
Oscar Marvin “Buster” Griffith, a widely respected community leader who quietly worked behind the scenes for betterment of Bradenton, died at home Sunday with Eileen, his wife of nearly 73 years, at his side.
He was president of Griffith-Cline Funeral Home until his death. Well into his 90s, he offered his expertise to clients and colleagues and his comfort to those mourning a loss.
“Comes in every day,” his son, Ken, told the Herald in 2008. “His occupation is helping people. He’s a hard act to follow.”
In recognition of a lifetime of good works, in 2008, he received the Manatee County Distinguished Citizen Award, presented by the Manatee River Fair Association.
“I’m flabbergasted,” Buster Griffith said when he received the award. “I never thought this would happen to me.”
But dozens who wrote in support of the Distinguished Citizen Award thought he was more than deserving of the recognition.
“So much of what Buster has done for the community will never be known,” wrote Richard W. Darty, who was a football teammate at Bradenton High School, later renamed Manatee High School.
In 2015, he received the Outstanding Alumni Award from Manatee High School.
Although he stayed out of the spotlight, many organizations benefited from his steady leadership, including the Manatee Chamber of Commerce, Civic Center Authority, American Red Cross, YMCA, United Way, Manatee County Shrine Club for Crippled and Burned Children, and Goodwill Industries.
“He always supported the good in everything. He had the respect of every single person in the community,” Ralph Garrison said. “He was always helping people in need.”
Tom Harrison called Griffith the best man you would ever want to meet.
“I never saw him try to get the glory for anything. He was a wonderful man,” Harrison said.
Pennsylvania native, Bradenton leader
Griffith was born March 17, 1923, in Martinsburg, Pa., the son of Jesse Marvin Griffith and Ruth Metzker Griffith. The family moved from Pennsylvania to Hollywood in 1926, then to Lake Wales in 1928.
Jesse Griffith and family came to Bradenton in 1938, when he and his partner, Conklin Cline, established Griffith-Cline Funeral Home.
Buster Griffith graduated from Bradenton High School in 1942, serving as senior class president. He was captain of the Bradenton High football team, where he starred as a fullback and linebacker, and earned a football scholarship to the University of Georgia.
He attended the University of Georgia for a year before joining the U.S. Navy during World War II. After his honorable discharge, he completed his education at Rollins College and the Eckels College of Mortuary Science in Philadelphia.
He was a Lions Club member, serving as treasurer and president, and was a master of the Braidentown Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons. He was a vice commander of American Legion Kirby Stewart Post 24. He served on the Bradenton Country Club board of directors and on the boards of several local banks. He was a member of Christ Episcopal Church.
Funeral service is at 11 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 20, at Christ Episcopal Church, 4030 Manatee Avenue West. Arrangements are by Griffith-Cline Funeral Home, 720 Manatee Ave. W., Bradenton.
The family requests in lieu of flowers that memorials be directed to Folds of Honor (https://foldsofhonor.org), an organization dedicated to providing educational scholarships to spouses and children of America’s fallen and disabled military service members.
