Glendene Griffin

Glendene Griffin of Allen, Oklahoma, passed away peacefully on Friday, October 2, surrounded by her loving family.

Katie Glendene Griffin (née Prentice) was born on March 18, 1933, to Homer Lee and Allie Mabel Caton Prentice in Allen, Oklahoma. As the eldest daughter of five children, she was the younger sister of Gene Lee and the older sister of Benny Perl, Violet Rhea, and Eddie L Prentice. At Allen High School, she shone as a talented basketball player, graduating in 1951, alongside her future husband, Billy Lee Griffin.

After marrying Bill in 1958, Glendene and Bill welcomed three children: Marla Beth, Bruce Wayne, and Leah Kay. They lived in Lindsay and Seminole before they returned to her beloved hometown of Allen in 1974. Glendene worked at Farmer's State Bank of Allen, Wonder Bread, First National Bank of Seminole, Southwestern Bell Telephone Company, and a local cafe in Allen. Her faith was a guiding force—she attended Free Will Baptist churches in each town, eventually making Bethel Free Will Baptist her spiritual home for the past forty years. Bethel, Allen, and family were always at the heart of Glendene's life. Her boundless energy and competitive spirit placed her front and center at Mustang basketball, baseball, and football games, and she was her grandchildren and great-grandchildren's biggest fan, cheering them on in everything from baseball and soccer to choir to orchestral performances. Glendene's love for athletics continued well into adulthood—she played basketball into her forties and, in her nineties, became the Cornhole and basketball Senior Champion at Rivermont Independent Living Center. Glendene's other great love, music, was a constant in her life; singing in the church choir, participating in the Selectones singing group, or asking Conner or Kelsey how to listen to music on the newest device she was gifted.

Glendene is preceded in death by her parents, Homer and Allie; her beloved husband, Bill; son, Bruce; and her brothers, Gene and Benny. She is lovingly remembered by her sister, Violet; her brother, Eddie (Kay); her daughters, Marla (David) Tinkler and Leah (Todd) Tidwell; grandchildren, Conner (Rikki) Tinkler, Dylan (Ashton) Tinkler, Matthew Tidwell, and Kelsey Anne Tidwell; great-grandchildren, Jordan, Lennon, Ivy, and Griffin; a very special niece, Rita Crawford; and a large extended family, community, and circle of friends whose lives she touched.

Services will be held at Bethel Free Will Baptist Church in Allen, Oklahoma, on October 8 at 11 a.m. The family will receive friends from 5:00-7:00 p.m. on Wednesday at the Allen Chapel.

Pallbearers include Bradley Prentice, Mark Prentice, Paul Prentice, Matthew Tidwell, Conner Tinkler, and Dylan Tinkler. Honorary Pallbearers include Robert Hammonds and Danny McDougal.