Obituary of Walter Owen Graham

Walter Owen Graham, Jr., passed away December 29 in Branford, Connecticut. Born in Glen Ridge, NJ on November 10, 1920, his parents were Dorothy Faye Arnold and Walter Owen Graham, Sr. Owen was predeceased by his sister Barbara Graham Hawkey, his beloved wife Barbara Kennard Graham, and a son, David Arnold Graham. He is survived by his sister Anne Graham Summers, sons Robert, William, and Walter and daughter Dorothy along with eleven grandchildren, several step grandchildren and one great grand daughter. A graduate of Montclair, NJ high school and Lehigh University (1942), he was commissioned a Lieutenant JG in the Navy and served on a Landing Ship Medium (LSM) in the Pacific theater until 1946. He was promoted to Lieutenant and given command of LSM 248, which was scheduled to support the invasion of Japan. Throughout the war he corresponded with Barbara Kennard of Montclair, NJ; they were married on September 21, 1946. They had four boys and a girl while living in Fairfield, CT. Owen worked in a variety of engineering positions including Spalding Fibre which transferred him to Dallas TX in 1961. The family returned to Glen Ridge, NJ in 1964 and continued their routine of summering at Seaview Beach in Madison, CT. Dad worked in a variety of engineering positions with Rex Chainbelt, S&C Electric and Hayden Wegman, before retiring in 1986 and spending winters at Indian River Plantation in Stuart, FL. Owen like his Dad was a builder and tackled major additions to the family homes. He was an outstanding clarinet player and participated in many bands from his high school days through retirement when he organized and led the Big Band on the Sound, which played at many charity and fundraising events in Southern Connecticut. A celebration of his life is being planned for the spring, 2014 in Madison, CT. Arrangements handled by Nutmeg State Cremation Society. www.nutmegcremation.com Read Walter Graham Jr.'s Obituary and Guestbook on nutmegcremation.com.