Arlene Marie (Traenkle) Griffis

Boardman-Arlene Marie Traenkle Griffis, 90, passed away peacefully on Sunday, November 1, 2020, at the Asbury Health and Rehabilitation Center of Charlotte, North Carolina.

Arlene was born January 22, 1930, the daughter of Albert G. and Delma Burrows Traenkle.

Raised in Youngstown, she attended North High School in Coitsville, graduating in 1947.  After graduation, Arlene attended Capital University in Columbus, OH, and then as an adult student attended Youngstown State University, completing a certificate in accounting.

Arlene retired in 1995, having been employed for 28 years as a payroll clerk with Cold Metal Products /Jones Laughlin/ LTV Steel of Youngstown.  Following retirement, she continued to work part-time with the family business D & G Pools and Christmas Tree Lane in North Lima, OH.

Arlene was quick-witted, an avid reader, a fiercely competitive card player, a talented seamstress, and a passionate NASCAR fan.  She loved to swim daily, learned to water-ski at age 50, and was a boat owner well into her 80s.  She was a Florida snowbird with her husband Jim, traveling each winter to Clermont, just outside of Orlando, to their lakeside vacation property to enjoy many fishing and boating trips. Arlene cruised the globe with her husband and friends to Alaska, the Bahamas, Panama Canal, Spain, Venezuela, and Mexico to name a few. She was a longtime member of the Lockwood Methodist Church in Boardman.

Arlene married her high school sweetheart, James ‘Jim’ Edward Griffis, on May 28, 1949.   They were married 54 years, built a family business together, had three children, and resided fifty years in Boardman, OH.

Arlene leaves her older sister Alberta Traenkle Pottorf of Columbus, OH; two daughters Lynn Haug and husband Bob of Boardman, OH, Teri Pahon and husband Ken of Belmont, NC; one son Larry Griffis and wife Ruth of Poland, OH; six grandchildren Eric Pahon of Annapolis, MD, Brittany Pahon Sambol and husband Cory of Navato, CA, Heidi Haug Innes and husband Eric of Charlotte, NC, Kimber Haug Catullo and husband Joseph of Pittsburgh, PA, Lee Griffis and wife Emily of New Springfield, OH, and Amanda Griffis Yoho and husband Don of Canfield, OH; and four great-grandchildren Aiden Pahon, Sydney and Sloane Sambol, and Donnie Yoho.

She is preceded in death by her beloved husband, brother Glen Traenkle, and infant granddaughter Andrea Haug.

The family will hold private funeral services to honor Arlene and requests that memorial gifts be made in Arlene’s name to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, Tenn., 38105.

Arrangements are being handled by the Cunningham-Becker Funeral Home in Poland. Please visit www.beckerobits.com to send online condolences.