Obituary for Robert Weatherby Graves
Robert Weatherby Graves
January 24, 1928 to January 23, 2022
Robert W. Graves took his last breath and peacefully slipped into eternity on January 23, 2022, one day shy of his 94th birthday.
Robert (Bob) was born January 24, 1928 in Royal Oak, Michigan to Mr. and Mrs. Paul Truman Graves. Bob was the youngest of three with Sister Pauline being the oldest and Brother Ned the middle.
Bob was very active in sports and outdoor activities during his youth. His participation was based on whatever sport was in season with summers often finding him canoeing on the many rivers in the state of Michigan accompanied by a close group of friends who remained in communication for the remainder of his days.
Bob joined the Navy in 1946 where he was trained as a corpsman caring for the returning soldiers following WWII. While in the Navy he qualified for his private pilot’s license which proved very useful in his career and family life. Following his time in the Navy he attended Michigan State University where he played fullback on the MSU football team a treasured memory of his young adulthood. The highlight of his time at Michigan State, however, was meeting his future wife Patsy Stadle of Battle Creek, Michigan.
Following their marriage in June of 1951 the couple relocated to Marshall, MI, where Bob and Patsy’s first son Robert Jr. (Bobby) was born. While the growing family was still in Marshall Bob began his career in the packaging business as a designer.
A transfer took the family to Chicago and the newly developed community of Park Forest where he lived for almost 65 years. Bob and Patsy were very active during their earlier years raising Bobby and John who was born right before relocating.
Bob continued his design and sales work in the packaging field in Chicago as well as in the Midwest, east coast, south and even Puerto Rico. He was able to fly to many of these customer locations which added to his enjoyment of his flying hobby. He also raised cattle on a hobby-farm, took a relaxing trip to Chautauqua, NY with Patsy every year, scheduled in an annual fishing trip to Canada were some of the things that became Bob’s passions as well as attending the occasional MSU football game.
Bob managed to hold onto some of his favorite accounts on a part-time basis which allowed him to go into semi-retirement when he was about 75 years old. He continued his career throughout his professional life earning his final design and sales project when he was 88 years old.
Health concerns brought both He and Patsy to Alexandria, Virginia to live with their son and daughter-in-law Melissa and then to Kilmarnock, Virginia until his passing. Bob was predeceased by his wife Patsy in 2020 and son Robert Jr. in 1996.
Survivors include son, John (Melissa), daughter in-law, Lauren Graves, and six grandchildren, Austin Graves (Babita), Hannah (Graves) Pagayo (Isaiah & Great Grandson Draven), Sabine Graves, Megan Graves, Christopher Graves and Molly Graves.
A special thanks to all of the staff at Commonwealth Senior Living in Kilmarnock and Hospice of Virginia. Their love and attentiveness to Bob contributed immensely to his quality during the three months he lived there as he completed the final leg of his life journey in their care. We thank God for this group of professionals and the many ways they have blessed our family through their loving care of Bob (Dad/Grandpa/Great Grandpa).
January 24, 1928 to January 23, 2022
Robert W. Graves took his last breath and peacefully slipped into eternity on January 23, 2022, one day shy of his 94th birthday.
Robert (Bob) was born January 24, 1928 in Royal Oak, Michigan to Mr. and Mrs. Paul Truman Graves. Bob was the youngest of three with Sister Pauline being the oldest and Brother Ned the middle.
Bob was very active in sports and outdoor activities during his youth. His participation was based on whatever sport was in season with summers often finding him canoeing on the many rivers in the state of Michigan accompanied by a close group of friends who remained in communication for the remainder of his days.
Bob joined the Navy in 1946 where he was trained as a corpsman caring for the returning soldiers following WWII. While in the Navy he qualified for his private pilot’s license which proved very useful in his career and family life. Following his time in the Navy he attended Michigan State University where he played fullback on the MSU football team a treasured memory of his young adulthood. The highlight of his time at Michigan State, however, was meeting his future wife Patsy Stadle of Battle Creek, Michigan.
Following their marriage in June of 1951 the couple relocated to Marshall, MI, where Bob and Patsy’s first son Robert Jr. (Bobby) was born. While the growing family was still in Marshall Bob began his career in the packaging business as a designer.
A transfer took the family to Chicago and the newly developed community of Park Forest where he lived for almost 65 years. Bob and Patsy were very active during their earlier years raising Bobby and John who was born right before relocating.
Bob continued his design and sales work in the packaging field in Chicago as well as in the Midwest, east coast, south and even Puerto Rico. He was able to fly to many of these customer locations which added to his enjoyment of his flying hobby. He also raised cattle on a hobby-farm, took a relaxing trip to Chautauqua, NY with Patsy every year, scheduled in an annual fishing trip to Canada were some of the things that became Bob’s passions as well as attending the occasional MSU football game.
Bob managed to hold onto some of his favorite accounts on a part-time basis which allowed him to go into semi-retirement when he was about 75 years old. He continued his career throughout his professional life earning his final design and sales project when he was 88 years old.
Health concerns brought both He and Patsy to Alexandria, Virginia to live with their son and daughter-in-law Melissa and then to Kilmarnock, Virginia until his passing. Bob was predeceased by his wife Patsy in 2020 and son Robert Jr. in 1996.
Survivors include son, John (Melissa), daughter in-law, Lauren Graves, and six grandchildren, Austin Graves (Babita), Hannah (Graves) Pagayo (Isaiah & Great Grandson Draven), Sabine Graves, Megan Graves, Christopher Graves and Molly Graves.
A special thanks to all of the staff at Commonwealth Senior Living in Kilmarnock and Hospice of Virginia. Their love and attentiveness to Bob contributed immensely to his quality during the three months he lived there as he completed the final leg of his life journey in their care. We thank God for this group of professionals and the many ways they have blessed our family through their loving care of Bob (Dad/Grandpa/Great Grandpa).