Raymond Graham

Jones R. Graham

Jones Raymond Graham, LTC, U.S. Army Retired, died March 31, 2009.Visitation will be at 1 p.m. Saturday, April 4, in the fellowship hall of First Presbyterian Church. The memorial service will begin at 3 p.m. in the sanctuary of the church, followed by a military graveside service in the Garden of Valor in Greenview Cemetery.Raymond was preceded in death by his father, John Noble Graham, and mother, Anna Myrtle Graham; and by his siblings, Zollie Graham (Madge), Ruby Vickers (Richard), Nell Miller (Curtis), Hazel Roberts (John), Kathleen Spaulding (Paul), his twin brother, Ralph Graham (Pat) and Glenn Graham (Delores). His brother, Bryce Graham, died April 1, 2009.Raymond is survived by his wife, Ethel Smith "Nicki" Graham; daughter, Lesley Cooke and husband, Christopher Cooke; and his son, Scott Graham and wife, Elizabeth Graham. He is also survived by his grandchildren, Graham Cooke, Nicholas Cooke and Caroline Cooke, all of London, England, and by Jones Graham, Lucy Graham and Elizabeth "Nicki" Graham, all of Chattanooga, Tenn. Additionally, he is survived by one brother, Leon Graham, of Florence, and by many nieces, nephews and cousins.Born in Vina, Ala., in 1927, LTC Graham graduated from Coffee High School and attended Auburn University, where he was a member of the Phi Delta Theta fraternity. He graduated from Florence State College, where he was a varsity member of that school's first football team. Upon graduation, he received a regular army commission as a 2nd lieutenant in the U.S. Army. His military career spanned 30 years, beginning with his enlistment in the U.S. Navy at age 17. He served in the Italian and North African Theaters during World War II. After his entry into the U.S. Army, he was stationed in France, Germany and the United States. He also served in Korea and in combat aviation as a helicopter pilot in Vietnam, where he was decorated with two bronze stars with oak leaf clusters for meritorious service. LTC Graham attended flight school in Texas and Fort Rucker, Ala., and flew helicopters and fixed wing aircraft during his long aviation career. In his last assignment in Germany, he served as Deputy Commander of the 15th Aviation Group, the largest aviation group in Europe. He served as the military liaison to the French Airshow in Paris and as a member of the Board of Directors for the United States Aviation Association in Germany. His last assignment was at the U.S. Army Depot in New Cumberland, Pa., where he was maintenance director for all Army aircraft east of the Mississippi River and procurement director, working with Boeing Aircraft in conjunction with military aircraft sales to Australia, Canada and other countries.After retirement from the military, Raymond was the Lauderdale County civil defense director. He was a faithful member of First Presbyterian Church and served as a deacon. He was a tireless world traveler and adventurer and an avid sailor. His greatest joy was walking 18 holes of golf every day on the lakeside golf course at Turtle Point Country Club.Dr. Richard Gillespie and Dr. Jim Thompson will lead the service. Pallbearers will be Jones Graham, Nicholas Cooke, Graham Cooke, Steve Graham, Jim Graham, Dr. Tom Murray, Dr. David Mussleman, David deWolfe and Billy Cadenhead. Honorary pallbearers will be the many golfing friends of Raymond Graham.Elkins Funeral Home is handling the arrangements. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to First Presbyterian Church or to the Scholarship Department at the University of North Alabama.