Alma Lenora Graves

GRAVES, Alma (Hemmelgarn)

Alma Graves joined her Father in heaven on July 12, 2008. Alma was born on November 30. 1918 into a large, loving family on a farm outside of Burkettsville, Ohio. She was preceded in death by her parents Joseph Hemmelgarn and Mary Backs, her sisters Alberta, Bertilla, and Dorothy and her brother Albert. She is survived by sisters Adella, Eileen and Anna Lee and brothers Leonard, Edward and Ivo. Alma came to Dayton at the age of 18 where she met the love of her life, Joseph. She married Lieutenant Joseph Graves, US Army Air Corps in Austin, Texas in 1943. Alma celebrated 63 years of loving marriage with Joseph until he passed away in August 2006. Their marriage was blessed and fruitful. Alma is survived by six children, Joseph Graves and his wife Barbara, Robert Graves and his wife Barbara, Marilyn Lysobey and her husband Bob, Marlene Lutkenhoff and her husband Steve, Elaine, and John Graves and his wife Kimberly. Alma also leaves behind 19 grandchildren, 19 great-grandchildren and 64 nephews and nieces. Alma was an accomplished seamstress, a great cook, and an avid card player. Alma also enjoyed collecting angels. After her husband's death in 2006, Alma moved to 10 Wilmington Place and immediately fell in love with all of the wonderful residents and staff. She will be missed by her family and friends and remembered for her compassion, her sense of humor, and her ever present smile. A mass of Christian Burial will be held Thursday, July 17, 2008 at 10:00 a.m. at Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception Church on Smithville Road. Interment will be in the Veterans Memorial, Heritage Hills Memory Gardens on State Route 48. Friends may call at Newcomer Funeral Home, 3380 Dayton-Xenia Road, Beavercreek, Ohio from 6-8 p.m. on Wednesday, July 16, 2008. The family is grateful for the compassion and assistance of the nurses and aides of Hospice of Dayton.