Billy Charles Griffis was born November 29, 1934, to Starlen Tate Griffis and Katie Marie Teague Griffis. He departed this life to his heavenly home on April 4th, 2025.

He was a member of the Celeste High School Class of 1952 where he was an Honor Student and voted Most Likely to Succeed. Bill proudly joined the U.S. Army right after graduation. He served for five years and was stationed in Panama for three of those years as a Tank Commander. He quickly rose to the rank of Sergeant. Billy became interested in the people and problems he encountered there and prepared himself for missionary work.

He trained and graduated from the Moody Bible Institute in Chicago. While there, he washed dishes to pay his tuition and still managed to send money back home to his family. He worked at Henington’s Publishing Company in the camera department. His Christian service was spent as a Greeter, Usher, Sunday School Teacher, Hospital Visitation Minister, Pastor’s Assistant, and anywhere else help was needed at First Baptist Church of Celeste.

He married the love of his life, Nora Sue Wheeler, on October 3, 1975.

Left to cherish his memory are his wife, Sue Griffis, and their children: Tim Wheeler and his partner Kathy Dearmond; Tracee Kidwell; and Tamara Walton and her husband Gary Walton. He is also survived by his grandchildren: Kathryn Guidroz and her husband Logan; Julianna Ruiz and her husband Rodrigo; Chris Wheeler; Cully Kidwell and his wife Jessica; Bri Davis and her husband Keith, along with their children Carter and Aubrey; Jaclyn Oquin and her husband TJ, and their daughter Layla; and Morgan Walton and her partner Zach Higgins. Billy is also survived by his brother, Samuel Tate Griffis and his wife Vicki of Celeste; sister, Brenda Kay Pine of the Woodland’s Place in Denison; and sister-in-law, Sammie Lane Griffis of Greenville, as well as many nieces, nephews, and cousins.

He was preceded in heaven by his parents; his brothers, Kenneth Earl, Bobby Lee, Jackson Thomas, and Stanley Eugene; his sister, Anita Joyce Anghern; sisters-in-law, Betty Griffis; brothers-in-law, Louis Anghern; niece, Konnie Pannkuk; and nephews, David Griffis and Steven Anghern.

Bill was a Christian man who walked with Jesus every day of his life. Poppy was a humble, modest man who led by example, showing his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren what it meant to live a life of faith, kindness, and integrity.

Billy Charles will be deeply missed but forever remembered by the countless people whose lives he touched. We know he has been joyfully welcomed into heaven.

A Funeral Service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, April 12, 2025 at First Baptist Church of Celeste, in Celeste, Texas. Visitation will begin one hour prior to the service. Burial will follow at Hogeye Cemetery in Celeste, Texas.