The beautiful, strong voice and lively personality of Lori Beth Griswold faded away on Sunday, August 30th, 2026, after a two-month-long battle with Covid pneumonia. She was one week short of her 68th birthday. Lori was born September 6th, 1958, in Mansfield, Ohio, to Charlotte Janet Witt (née Zellner). When she was four years old, Lori’s mother married her adoptive father, Donald Doyle Witt, and they raised Lori and her younger brother David in Mansfield. Lori completed a Bachelor of Arts in English at Queens College in 1985 and a Master of Arts in English at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte in 1990.
Lori was beloved everywhere she went and easily made friends no matter how grand or ordinary the locale. She was known for her lovely voice. She sang in multiple choirs, most recently St. John in the Wilderness Episcopal Church Choir. But her real calling was as a soloist. Her favorite works to perform and listen to included the Great American Songbook, classic Broadway tunes, arias from operas, and art songs, whether in concert or just around the house. Her husband and love of her life, Tom, was her constant companion as they attended art shows, concerts, and operas. They traveled all over, from visiting their daughters, Helen and Sarah, a few states away to halfway around the world, exploring Europe, Canada, India, and the Aegean. An avid learner with many intellectual and artistic pursuits, including writing and editing, crochet, and drawing, Lori could always find a creative outlet to occupy her time. She had a great sense of humor, and particularly loved word play, British comedy, and the writings of P.G. Wodehouse.
Lori and Tom married and started their family in Charlotte, North Carolina. They later moved with their daughters to Cologne, Germany, and then to Davenport, Iowa. As Tom reached retirement, they returned to their favorite place—the mountains of North Carolina—and bought a home in Flat Rock. Though her life ended too soon, she spent more than 40 wonderful years with her husband and best friend, Tom. She is dearly missed by her many friends and family.
Lori was predeceased by her parents, Charlotte and Donald Witt. She is survived by her husband, Tom Griswold of Flat Rock, NC; her daughters Helen Griswold (Jason TenBarge) of Hamilton, NJ and Sarah Landry (Sean) of Atlanta, GA; her brother, David Witt of Crestline, OH; and a large extended family.
A memorial will be held for Lori on Saturday, September 26th, 2026, at 2 p.m. at the St. John in the Wilderness Episcopal Church in Flat Rock, NC. Memorial donations may be made to St. John in the Wilderness in her honor. Condolences may be sent to the Griswold family at www.jacksonfuneralservice.com or C/O Jackson Funeral Service, 1101 Greenville Highway, Hendersonville, NC 28792. Please include the name of the deceased on the condolence card.
Jackson Funeral Service is honored to serve the Griswold family.