In Memoriam

January 27, 1956 - August 20, 2025

After many years of struggle Ellen Griffin, 69, lost her valiant battle with cancer and flew west on August 20, 2025 in Hilton Head, SC.  She was hired by Tigers on July 6, 1987 and retired from FedEx in 2019 as a Boeing 777 Captain.  She last attended the FTLPA reunion in Savannah earlier this year, and was the one responsible for recommending the band, Deas Guys, that provided such good entertainment that night.  Although battling fatigue and time, she was absolutely radiant and able to dance and say goodbye to all who knew her during the final gala.  We'll miss your smile Ellen!

Below is her official obituary from Sauls Funeral Home at https://www.saulsfh.com/obituaries/ellen-griffin

Ellen Carey Griffin died peacefully at her home on Hilton Head Island, surrounded by family and friends, on August 20, 2025.

Ellen was born in Baltimore, Maryland on January 27, 1956. She was the daughter of William Patrick Griffin and Denise O’Connor Griffin.
Ellen grew up in Easton, Maryland and attended school at Easton High School and University of Maryland. She caught the flying bug from her father, who was a private pilot, and she learned to fly from various instructors at Easton Airport. After attaining her commercial instrument rating and her seaplane rating, she began flying for Virgin Islands Seaplane Shuttle. After flying for VISS, she flew for a number of commuter airlines, ultimately landing her dream job of flying cargo worldwide with Flying Tigers which became FedEx. During her time flying with FedEx, she flew numerous trips around the world. Throughout her long and distinguished flying career, she flew 727s, 747s, as a captain on the MD11 and she retired as a captain on the 777.

As a result of her vast world travels, she had the opportunity to meet people from many countries and all walks of life. Ellen’s generosity knew no bounds. She opened her home and her heart to people from around the world, including French exchange students and Finnish sailing teams, just to name a few, and was always there for someone in need.

Ellen was preceded in death by her parents, Bill and Denise. She is survived by her brother Billy and his wife Mary, of Easton, her brother Peter and his wife Terri, of Easton, and her sister Laura of Bluffton, SC. She is also survived by her nieces and nephews, Hannah, Ladd, Maggie, Cloe and Flynn. And, her faithful companion, Fergus the Scottish Terrier.

Ellen will be remembered for her smile, her style, her laugh, her generosity and her caring heart. She was loved and will be missed by all. There will never be another Elle! In her memory, please do something kind and helpful for someone who is struggling.

At Ellen’s request, there will be no service.

Ellen has, “slipped the surly bonds of Earth and danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings;…”

In 2008 she was the recipient of the Aerial Achievement Medal, along with charter representative Erich Krueck and others at Fed Ex after flying 25 missions as an F/O (many with Erich) into Bagram and Al Assad Air Bases during Operation Iraqi Freedom.  The Aerial Achievement Medal is a military decoration of the United States Armed Forces, first authorized on 5 July 1988, awarded to both pilots and crew members for sustained meritorious achievement while participating in aerial flight, and accomplished with distinction above and beyond that normally expected of professional airmen.

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