William (Bill) Graham

William (Bill) Graham of Green River, died Jan. 2, 2018, in Palm Springs, Calif., while on vacation.

He was born in Washington, D.C., June 5, 1942. He was adopted by Malcolm and Margaret Pitzer Graham of Doswell, Va. He attended schools in Ashland, Va., and graduated from Henry Clay High School in 1959. He attended Washington and Lee College and Randolph Macon College.

He married Sandra Hiester with whom he had three children, Roger, Betsy and Wade.

They later divorced. In 1975, he married Judy Caldwell Long in Richmond, Va. They had one child together, Blair.

Bill was immensely proud of all of his children. He was proud of their many accomplishments and supported them in all they did.

Bill was a lifelong sports fan who played football in high school and semi-professional football. He was a staunch Green River High School sports fan attending all boys and girls sports. He was often found watching his favorite teams on TV and listening to them on the radio.

He and Judy traveled often to visit their children and friends on the east coast, California and Alaska. This past year was very special to him since he traveled to the northwest to meet his birth family of siblings.

Bill was well-known in the restaurant business in Sweetwater County as the manager of several restaurants but most notably as the sales representative for Sysco and for joining his son at the Krazy Moose Restaurant.

For the past 25 years, he has been very grateful for a special group of friends who shared a special bond. He was both a mentor and a supporter of many of his friends, but he often thought he was given much from this group.

Bill is survived by his wife, Judy, and his children, Betsy Graham (Sondra) of Bel Air, Md.; Roger Graham (Mark) of Palm Springs, Calif.; Hamilton Long (Rebecca) of Kodiak, Alaska; Wade Graham (Colby) of Bel Air, Md.; and Blair Graham (Kathrine) of Bel Air, Md. He had six grandchildren, Jacob Long of Marieta, Ga.; Tatianna Long of Williamsburg, Va.; Eric Long of Cordova, Alaska; Tyler Graham of Baltimore; Rilee Graham of Bel Air, Md., and Will Graham of Bel Air, Md. His siblings are Cyndi Rogers of Maui, Hawaii; Larry Butler of Seattle; Joey Butler of Seattle; Kim Bolstad of Newport, Wash., and Diana Layton of Newport, Wash. He had two cousins, Ann Smolinski and Susan Luck.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Malcolm Graham and Margaret Pitzer Graham and his biological mother, Frances Macartney.

Memorial services will take place Jan. 13, 2018, at 11 a.m. at Union Congregation United Church of Christ (Mansface Church) at 350 Mansface St., Green River. Reverend Jenny Boteler will officiate. Friends may visit with the family one hour before the services at the church.