John W. Graham

John W. Graham, age 73, of Eastland, Texas died on August 27, 2014 at home surrounded by family. Mr. Graham’s death comes on the heels of a relatively short battle with colon cancer. Funeral services will be at 3:00p.m. Friday, August 29, 2014 at Lake Leon Baptist Church in Eastland, Texas with Pastor Craig Rhoton and Pastor Ronny Guess officiating. Graveside services in Eastland Cemetery will immediately follow the church service. Visitation will also be at the church from 1:00p.m. until 2:30p.m. immediately preceding the church services.
John was born on August 13, 1941 in Eastland, Texas to Wince and Sonoma (Mounts) Graham. He grew up in Morton Valley, spent the first two years of public school at that country school before being incorporated into the “foreign” school district of Eastland where he graduated from high school in 1959. He then spent two years at Ranger Junior College, Ranger, Texas, and finished his degree studies at what was then called Tarleton College. John was always proud of the fact that he was a member of the first four-year graduating class of Tarleton. In September 2013 this class was recognized for their fifty-year anniversary and awarded a gold medallion in honor of their graduation and life accomplishments. That school has now grown to the size and distinction of being renamed Tarleton State University.
John married Dianna Robertson on November 16, 1963 in Eastland, Texas and soon after the wedding began his career in banking. He spent four years at Citizens National Bank in Abilene, Texas before joining the Texas Department of Banking in September 1968. John enjoyed a long and illustrious career with the DOB, with a break in 1978 to go into the private banking sector. In that capacity he worked to establish a bank in Early, Texas and served as President of that bank. Following that venture he moved to Ranger, Texas as Senior Vice President of First State Bank and was there until 1984. He moved to Liberty Hill, Texas with the intention of building and managing a new bank there, but unfortunately, this was the period of time that banks all over the nation were closing, so the charter for the bank was rescinded. He then went to work for Leander State Bank, Leander, Texas, once again as Vice President. After a couple of years he went to work for the holding company that owned the Leander Bank as auditor for their various holdings and served in that capacity several years. In 1988 he went back to work for the Department of Banking and remained in that employ until his retirement in January 2005.
Following retirement, John and Dianna moved back to Eastland, Texas where he was active in the Ranger Lions Club, First Baptist Church, Ranger, Texas and Lake Leon Baptist Church, Eastland, Texas. John was a big football fan and every Friday night for the last 10 years he could be seen cheering the Cisco Loboes on to victory. Some games he was certain his cheer was what pushed them over the finish line. He also missed very few televised college and professional football games. He was quite the “armchair quarterback.” During these years, refurbishing his home and building the home landscape were joys of his also. He was a staunch Republican and Fox News was as important to him as daily meals!
Family was his pride and joy. John is survived by his wife Dianna, three sons Mark (Sonja) of Eastland, Jeff (Vicki) of Clyde, Texas and Travis (Amber) of Liberty Hill, Texas. He is survived by four granddaughters Heather Graham of Stephenville, Texas, Erika Graham of Denton, Texas, Amber Graham of San Angelo, Texas and Shelby Graham of Eastland, Texas; four grandsons Trevor, Tanner and Tristan Graham of Clyde, Texas and Jake Graham of Liberty Hill, Texas. He is also survived by two step-granddaughters Ashley (Jason) Williams of Holoman AFB, New Mexico and Sarah (Jason) Bynum of Eastland, Texas and four great-grandsons Keaton and Rowan Williams of Holoman AFB, New Mexico and Hunter and Gunner Bynum of Eastland, Texas. John is also survived by four brothers Wince Graham of Abilene, Texas, Larry (Billie Jo) Graham of Tuscola, Texas, Mike (Carole) Graham and Paul Joe (Dorothy) Sturm of Vidor, Texas and one sister Wanda Guess of Ranger, Texas. John is survived by many nieces and nephews. Also surviving are two very special sisters-in-law Judy (Steven) Leonard of Eastland, Texas and Lynn Fair of Plano, Texas and one brother-in-law Larry Robertson of Brownwood, Texas.
He was preceded in death by his parents Wince and Sonoma Graham; two sisters, Imogene Gayler of Barstow, California and Modell Gann of Eastland, Texas; one sister-in-law Juanita Graham of Abilene, Texas; three brothers-in-law, Joel Gayler of Barstow, California, Leo Gann of Eastland, Texas and Bill Guess of Ranger, Texas; one nephew, David Sturm of Vidor, Texas and one great-nephew Jared Graham of Snyder, Texas.
In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the Building Fund of Lake Leon Baptist Church, 2601 Hwy 2214, Eastland, Texas 76448.
Online condolences may be made at edwards-funeral-homes.com.