Leslie A. Gritton's Obituary
Leslie A. Gritton ObituaryLeslie A. Gritton was born in 1938 in Toronto, Ohio, a small town in which he spent an idyllic childhood. He descended from one of the earliest settlers of that state, Auver Michael Myers, an Indian scout who was a protégé of George Washington. Les was the youngest of 5 brothers, and was born 10 years after his next older brother. His first three brothers all served honorably in World War II, and his brother Norman served in the military during the Korean War. Les kept up that family tradition of service to country by serving the military in a civilian capacity. After graduating with a bachelor’s degree in physics from Ohio University in Athens, Ohio, he moved to California in 1966 and went to work for the United States Air Force as a civilian contractor, working for such companies as Lockheed Missiles and Space (until 1973) and L-3 Comm and its successors for the next 32 years. He was a systems specialist, analyst and project manager for satellite operations and mission critical functions. He held a top secret security clearance and served for many years in the former Onizuka Air Force Base. Overall, Les spent 45 years helping to protect his country from external threats. For the past half century, Les lived in Santa Clara, California. In 1980, on a skiing trip to Telluride, Colorado, Les met the love of his life, Betty Lew. The two married in 1982 and began a 30 year adventure filled with countless memorable good times. It ended only because of Betty’s premature death in 2012. Les himself died on August 23, 2018, a bitter loss for all who knew him. Les was a strong, decent, caring man who loved his country and his extended family. He led an unblemished life and set an enviable example that others would profit from following. He will be greatly missed and long remembered.Leslie A. Gritton, beloved husband of the late Betty Marie Lew Gritton, passed away on August 23, 2018. He was born on November 26, 1938, in Toronto, Ohio, the fifth son of the late William J. and Irene Ramsey Gritton. His four older brothers, all now deceased, were Billy (the late Betty), Donald (the late Rosemary), Richard (the late Shirley) and Norman (the late Barbara). He is survived by 13 nieces and nephews and many grandnieces and grandnephews, as well as his late wife’s three sisters—Mary Lew, Peggy Lew Reynolds (Christopher) and Carol Lew (Beth)—brother Donald (Mary Beth), niece (Erin Lew Reynolds) and two nephews (Kevin Lew Reynolds and Christopher Lew). His funeral will be held at Skylawn Memorial Park in San Mateo on Friday, August 31, 2018, in a private service. The family has asked that in lieu of flowers, donations in Les’s name be sent to the American Cancer Society.
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