Raymond T "Ray" Mcgraw
June 25, 1923 — July 15, 2008
Raymond T. McGraw, 85, of Delaware, Iowa died at his home on Tuesday, July 15, 2008, after a courageous battle with cancer.
A Funeral Mass will be at 10:30 am Friday, July 18, 2008 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Manchester with Rev. Jack Flaherty and Rev. Dale Critchley officiating. Visitation will be from 4:00 pm until 8:00 pm on Thursday, July 17 at the Bohnenkamp-Murdoch Funeral Home and Cremation Service in Manchester and one hour before services at the church on Friday. Burial will be in the Pineview Cemetery, Delaware, Iowa.
Ray was born June 25, 1923 in Independence, Iowa the son of Edwin and Emma (Bebee) McGraw. He received his education in Monti and a country school. He received his G.E.D. from West Delaware. On January 30, 1945, Ray married Mary K. Wilgenbusch. The couple later divorced. Ray worked for Manchester Cashway, farmed and was a home builder. He lived in Delaware County all his life. He was united in marriage to Navadee Irene Penn-Russell on February 12, 1983 - they were the best 25 years of his life.
Ray was a mayor of Delaware, Iowa, was on the Delaware County Recycling Committee, and a member of St. Mary’s Catholic and St. Paul’s Lutheran Church.
His special interest was flying and was a pilot for over 60 years. He also loved his cats, especially “Bear.”
Ray is survived by his wife, Navadee McGraw of Delaware; eight children, Tom (Sharon) McGraw of Delhi, Donna (Larry) Williams of Ryan, Ron (Jerry) McGraw of Waterville, MN, Jim (Diana) McGraw of Manchester, Gary (Peggy) McGraw of Dubuque, Diane Farmer , Dave (Kathy) McGraw, and Dan (June) McGraw of Manchester; four step-children, Richard (Beverly) Russell of Ephrata, WA, Connie McGraw and Charlene Weatherwax of Delhi, and Karen (Craig) McCoy of Crawfordsville, IA; 44 grandchildren, 90 great-grandchildren, one great-great-grandchild; one brother, Bill McGraw of Manchester; five sisters, Ruth (Joe) Falconer of Manchester, Pat (Harry) Winchester of Holmen, WI, Rosie Ryan of Manchester, Arlene (Henry) Myers of Holmen, WI and Joan (Vernon) Gudenkauf, of Monti; two sisters-in-law, Lu Ann McGraw of Cedar Rapids and Bertha McGraw of Washington state; and numerous nieces and nephew.
Ray was preceded in death by his parents, Edwin & Emma McGraw; two brothers, Bob McGraw and Dennis McGraw; two grandchildren, Timothy McGraw and Vicki Stebral; a great-grandson, Joshua Weber; a sister-in law, Joanne McGraw; and a brother-in-law, Paul Ryan.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the family for a memorial fund to be established
Please sign our online guestbook for Ray at www.murdochfuneral home.com under obituaries.
A Funeral Mass will be at 10:30 am Friday, July 18, 2008 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Manchester with Rev. Jack Flaherty and Rev. Dale Critchley officiating. Visitation will be from 4:00 pm until 8:00 pm on Thursday, July 17 at the Bohnenkamp-Murdoch Funeral Home and Cremation Service in Manchester and one hour before services at the church on Friday. Burial will be in the Pineview Cemetery, Delaware, Iowa.
Ray was born June 25, 1923 in Independence, Iowa the son of Edwin and Emma (Bebee) McGraw. He received his education in Monti and a country school. He received his G.E.D. from West Delaware. On January 30, 1945, Ray married Mary K. Wilgenbusch. The couple later divorced. Ray worked for Manchester Cashway, farmed and was a home builder. He lived in Delaware County all his life. He was united in marriage to Navadee Irene Penn-Russell on February 12, 1983 - they were the best 25 years of his life.
Ray was a mayor of Delaware, Iowa, was on the Delaware County Recycling Committee, and a member of St. Mary’s Catholic and St. Paul’s Lutheran Church.
His special interest was flying and was a pilot for over 60 years. He also loved his cats, especially “Bear.”
Ray is survived by his wife, Navadee McGraw of Delaware; eight children, Tom (Sharon) McGraw of Delhi, Donna (Larry) Williams of Ryan, Ron (Jerry) McGraw of Waterville, MN, Jim (Diana) McGraw of Manchester, Gary (Peggy) McGraw of Dubuque, Diane Farmer , Dave (Kathy) McGraw, and Dan (June) McGraw of Manchester; four step-children, Richard (Beverly) Russell of Ephrata, WA, Connie McGraw and Charlene Weatherwax of Delhi, and Karen (Craig) McCoy of Crawfordsville, IA; 44 grandchildren, 90 great-grandchildren, one great-great-grandchild; one brother, Bill McGraw of Manchester; five sisters, Ruth (Joe) Falconer of Manchester, Pat (Harry) Winchester of Holmen, WI, Rosie Ryan of Manchester, Arlene (Henry) Myers of Holmen, WI and Joan (Vernon) Gudenkauf, of Monti; two sisters-in-law, Lu Ann McGraw of Cedar Rapids and Bertha McGraw of Washington state; and numerous nieces and nephew.
Ray was preceded in death by his parents, Edwin & Emma McGraw; two brothers, Bob McGraw and Dennis McGraw; two grandchildren, Timothy McGraw and Vicki Stebral; a great-grandson, Joshua Weber; a sister-in law, Joanne McGraw; and a brother-in-law, Paul Ryan.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the family for a memorial fund to be established
Please sign our online guestbook for Ray at www.murdochfuneral home.com under obituaries.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Raymond T "Ray" Mcgraw, please visit our flower store.