FORT WORTH – Lance Raynor Griggs, 83, passed away January 24, 2026. Visitation: 6 p.m. – 8 p.m. Monday, February 9, 2026, at Greenwood Funeral Home in Memorial Suite A, at 3344 White Settlement Road, Fort Worth, Texas 76107. Funeral: 9:30 a.m. Tuesday, February 10, 2026 in Greenwood’s Live Oak Chapel at 3100 White Settlement Road, Fort Worth, Texas 76107. Interment: 1:15 p.m. Tuesday, February 10, 2026, at Dallas-Fort Worth National Cemetery, 2000 Mountain Creek Parkway, Dallas, Texas, 75211. Lance Griggs born December 19, 1942, was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, veteran, and community leader whose life was marked by service, intellect, humor, and deep love for family and community. Lance graduated from Stamford High School in Stamford, Texas, in 1961. He later completed a Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematics in 1991 and earned his Master of Business Administration from LeTourneau University in 1995. Lance and Judy were high school sweethearts who began dating on March 10, 1960, during their junior year. They married on July 28, 1962, shortly after Lance joined the Air Force, and enjoyed 63½ years of marriage. Much of that time was filled with Lance playfully teasing Judy, often joking with family that God had given him the task of teaching her patience-and that it was still a work in progress. He was sworn into the United States Air Force as an Airman Basic on January 15, 1962, and retired from active duty on January 31, 1982, following 20 years of honorable service. During his military career, Lance trained extensively on the U.S. Air Force Radar Bomb Scoring (RBS) system, which became his primary specialty. At the time of his retirement, he was a Master Instructor and served as the head of the technical school for that career field. Lance also served as a technical advisor during the transition of the B-52D bombing and navigation system from an analog to a digital computer platform. His service included tours in Guam and Okinawa, as well as two tours in Thailand, all in direct support of B-52 bombing operations during the Vietnam War. Following his military retirement, Lance spent four years in Corpus Christi working as a supervisor for a professional video and security company. He then returned to Fort Worth and joined General Dynamics (now Lockheed Martin) as a technical writer. He later advanced to a position within the F-16 fighter aircraft program office. During his final 15 years with Lockheed Martin, Lance managed the development and delivery of highly classified weapons software programs for the aircraft. While at Lockheed Martin, Lance and his wife Judy became deeply involved in their community. They joined their local neighborhood association in 1993, and Lance assumed the role of president in 1995. He remained president, with Judy serving on the Board of Directors, until the association’s disbandment in 2025-an event Lance jokingly attributed to the fact that no one else was willing to take on the role. In 1994, they also became active in a crime prevention initiative launched by the Fort Worth Police Department known as Code Blue. Lance was appointed captain of the Summerfields Citizens on Patrol (COP) group in 1996 and continued in that role until his death. Together, Lance and Judy consistently volunteered between 1,000 and 1,500 hours each year. Over more than 33 years of service to both the neighborhood association and the COP program, Lance and Judy played an active and influential role in their community. They were instrumental in securing funding for and constructing the Summerglen Branch Library, which opened in 2000. They also advocated for improved police coverage and the creation of the Far North Fort Worth Police Division-a decade-long effort that culminated in the division’s activation in early 2016. Upon retirement, Lance often joked that he did not know how he ever managed to work a full-time job given the number of hours he devoted to volunteering. Following his retirement, Lance continued to collaborate with numerous city departments to manage zoning changes and oversee construction activity within the area. He also served on multiple Fort Worth Police Department advisory committees. Throughout Lance’s military career, the couple lived in numerous locations. Among the most memorable were Hawthorne, Nevada, where they welcomed their first child, Debra, and Matagorda Island, Texas, where they welcomed Michelle-the child they lovingly joked was responsible for all their gray hair. In his free time, Lance enjoyed working crossword puzzles, never cheating even once, and spending hours reading. A true history buff, he devoured books and documentaries and possessed a remarkable breadth of knowledge. He could strike up a conversation with anyone on nearly any topic, always weaving humor into the exchange. He had a natural ability to articulate his thoughts clearly and meaningfully and remained lively, witty, and unmistakably himself to the very end. Lance inherited his love of dogs from his mother and passed that affection on to many family members. He and Judy adopted several dogs from a rescue organization so selective that references were required. Every reference returned the same sentiment: “When I die, I want to come back as one of Lance’s dogs.” He also enjoyed spending time on the back patio watching birds while savoring a good cigar, especially when visitors stopped by to join him-always offered a cigar in welcome. Over the years, Judy created numerous scrapbook albums documenting their life and family history, with Lance faithfully printing every photograph she requested. On the final page of each album, they wrote a personal reflection. One excerpt reads: “Age changes our perspective. We come to appreciate the history and values passed down by our family. It brings a sense of pride, yet also reminds us of our own mortality. Hopefully, this album, put together with so much love, will document a small part of our family’s march in this parade of time.” Lance is survived by his wife, Judith Anne Griggs; his daughters, Debra Bourne (husband Steve) and Michelle Long (husband Danny); his grandchildren, Keith Long (wife Heather), Justin Long (wife Lindsey), Christie Cook (husband Tommie), Cynthia Cowan (husband Robert), Staff Sergeant Greg Bourne (wife Amber), Kevin Bourne, and Amanda Bourne; 11 great-grandchildren; and four great-great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, Holland Griggs and Zelma Jeter Griggs-Logan; his sister, Sue Madeline Baker; and his great-granddaughter, Angel Hart. GREENWOOD FUNERAL HOME Greenwood Funeral Homes – Cremation 3344 White Settlement Road, Fort Worth, TX 76107 817-336-0584

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