William “Bill” Griffin III

October 22, 1950 – February 27, 2023

William “Bill” Griffin III, age 72, of Denham Springs, Louisiana, passed away peacefully at home on February 27, surrounded by his loving family. Bill was born in Richmond, Virginia to William Otha Griffin, Jr. and Virgie Lee (Jones) Griffin on October 22, 1950. Bill is survived by his wife Gloria Gerlach Griffin; his son, William “Willie” Griffin IV; his daughter and son-in-law, Melanie Griffin Derry and Christopher John Derry; his grandchildren, Jackson Pierce Derry, Isabella Noelle Derry, and Madeline Grace Derry. He is also survived by his sister, Patricia Griffin Markel; his brother and sister-in-law, Barry Lynn Griffin and Cheryl Howk Griffin; his brother-in-law and wife, Evan Gerlach Jr. and Sue Sampson; and his nephews and nieces, Gary Lee Markel II, Michael Lynn Griffin, Matthew Sampson, Anna McLin, Jennifer Gerlach, and Laura McGrath.

Bill was a thoughtful, devoted husband, evidenced by the extravagant love he lavished on Gloria, his wife of 49 years. In their younger days as high school sweethearts, Bill and Gloria enjoyed going to concerts, taking out the “yellow banana” (their boat), traveling abroad, and vacationing with friends. Bill was the supportive and proud dad of Willie, who shares his sense of humor, love of LSU football, and incredible sales ability. He was the doting daddy of Melanie, who will always be his “sunshine” and will never be too old to sing about bushels, pecks, and hugs around the neck. The second-born child to William O. Griffin, Jr. and Virgie Lee (Jones) Griffin, Bill was grateful for the relationship he had with his siblings, Pat and Barry. Their time together was usually spent reminiscing about childhood shenanigans and never short on laughter! Characterized by positivity and perseverance, Bill was always a hard worker who knew exactly how to serve his tire customers. However, one of Bill’s greatest accomplishments came in 2009 when he was promoted to Paw-Paw. His grandchildren, Jackson (14), Isabella (12), and Maddie Grace (9) were the apple of his eye and his face lit up watching them dance, sing, and tell stories of friendships and school.

Ever the optimist and extrovert, Bill’s big personality and infectious laugh brought life to any party. He hardly met a stranger and was a caring friend to all. He loved any excuse to host a “deal” (what he called a big cookout with friends, during which he grilled steaks, sausage, and his famous bacon-wrapped shrimp) – a tradition carried on by his son-in-law, Chris, to this day. Bill will be remembered for his love of twangy country music, taking “long cuts” to spend more time in the car together, and always ordering the most expensive thing on the menu when Willie took him out to dinner.

A celebration of life service will be held at Woodlawn Baptist Church in Baton Rouge on Saturday, March 4 at 11:00am, with a reception immediately following. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the charity of your choice in his honor. Please share your condolences at