COLUMBIA CITY – Junior Graves, 85, South Whitley, passed away at 7:13 a.m. Oct. 30, 2015, at Parkview Regional Medical Center, Fort Wayne, surrounded by his family. He was born July 10, 1930, in Noble County, to Ernest E. and Evelyn B. Stewart Graves. On May 5, 1951, in Columbia City, he married Geraldine Barker, who survives. They were married 64 years. He attended Wolf Lake High School. Soon after, he was drafted into the U.S. Army during the Korean War and served from June 1951 to March 1953. In the late 1950s, he moved to South Whitley. He worked at Gripco Fasteners, South Whitley, for 38 years, retiring in 1992, and was a faithful member of South Whitley United Methodist Church. Also surviving are three daughters: Brenda (and spouse Jerry) Shilling, Syracuse; Becky (and spouse Junior) Martin, Claypool; Kimberly (and spouse Scott) Brown, Pierceton; seven grandchildren: Andrea Greer, North Manchester; Jodi (and Shon Little) Shilling, Winnetka, Calif.; Justin (and spouse Danielle) Shilling, Warsaw; Ryan Martin, Indianapolis; Trenton (and spouse April) Martin, Chicago, Ill.; Kaleb (and spouse Carli) Brown, Denver, Colo.; and Kylee Brown, Sioux Falls, S.D.; and five great-grandchildren: Lydia, Macy and Maddux Greer, Pixie Little and Emma Shilling. He was preceded in death by his parents; a brother, Earl Graves; a sister, Martha E. Kessler; a son, Rickie L. Graves; a grandson, Kameron Brown; and a great-granddaughter, Daisy Little. Services will be 10 a.m. Wednesday at De-Money Grimes, a Life Story Funeral Home, Columbia City, with the Rev. Chris Stahlman officiating. Burial will follow at South Whitley Cemetery with military honors being rendered by the Whitley County Korean Veterans Honor Guard. Calling will be 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home. ***** Memorials to South Whitley United Methodist Church or Cancer Services of Northeast Indiana. To read Junior’s life story or to send his family condolences, visit www.demoneygrimes.com
