Florence Pearl Lewis Graham

Florence Pearl Lewis Graham, 88, of Terre Haute, passed away on Monday, December 22, 2014, at Union Hospital with her family by her side. She was born in London, KY on July 17, 1926 to Leeander and Nellie Bell (Johnson) Lewis.

On July 9, 1944, she married her sailor sweetheart, Russell E. Graham while he was home on leave. They were married 66 years before his passing in 2012.

Florence was retired from ISU where she worked as a cook at the grill and Sandison Hall. She was a Larry Bird fan and loved the excitement that era brought to ISU.

Florence and her husband loved camping and were former members of N.C.H.A. Mooresville Moonlighters. She was also a member of the Vigo County Conservation Club.

Besides camping, she also loved quilting, sewing, her soap operas, board games, and winning at poker. She especially loved teaching her son Ronnie poker lessons. She was a wonderful cook and made the world’s best pineapple upside down cake. She loved all children and people and was loved by all that knew her. She will be sadly and greatly missed.

Florence was preceded in death by her parents, husband, a grandson, a great-grandson, a baby sister, seven brothers, one brother-in-law, and two sister-in-laws.

She is survived by two sisters, Mary Jane Jones and Susie Lewis, sister-in-laws Edna Darkis and Vickie Ramsey and husband Max, four children: Ronnie Graham and wife Carol, Judy Hatcher and husband Bill, Kenny Graham and wife Reba, and Debra Zehner; eleven grandchildren, Billy Hatcher, Melissa (Jason) Thomas, Leslie (Darrick) Shields, Rachel (Jeremy) Graham, Kim (Andrew) Deckard, Susan (Berry) Nichols, Russell “R.J.” (Kindra) Graham, Mikah (Kentz) Zehner, Lindsay, Nicole, and Heather Montgomery; eleven great-grandchildren, MiKentzie Ward, Riley and Casey Graham, Austen Kuykendall, Jasey Thomas, Ashley Reed, Tyler and Haley Deckard, Jack Graham-Dearth, Kyleigh and Tate Montgomery; and two great-great-grandchildren, Autumn and Amirah Reed; and many nieces and nephews.

Florence recently became a resident of Southwood where she fit right in. She loved the staff and residents there. Her family would like to thank Southwood, Hospice of the Wabash Valley, and her very special sister-in-law Vickie Ramsey who was always there for her.

Visitation will be held from 11 to 1 on Monday, December 29 at Thomas Funeral Home. Services will be held at 1 p.m. on Monday, at the funeral home, with Pastor Brett Wilson officiating. Florence will be laid to rest next to her husband in Roselawn Memorial Park. Donations may be made to the Alzheimers Association, envelopes will be available at the funeral home. Kind words and expressions of sympathy may be shared with the family at www.thomasfuneralhome.net