East Lansing, MI - Born in Columbus, Ohio, 31 October 1930, son of W. Fred ("Ted") and Serena (Clark) Graham. Fred graduated from Reynoldsburg High School in Reynoldsburg, Ohio, Tarkio College in Missouri, and Pittsburgh Theological Seminary. He received a master's degree from Louisville Presbyterian Seminary, and a doctorate in religious studies from the University of Iowa in 1965. An ordained minister, he served churches in Iowa, and on an interim basis in Michigan. He was a member of Lake Michigan Presbyterian (Presbyterian Church, USA) and sang in the choir at Eastminster Presbyterian Church in East Lansing, where his ashes will be interred in the church gardens.
In 1953 he was married to Jean Garrett of Braddyville, Iowa, who was his companion in ministry and during his 30 years on the faculty at Michigan State University. In addition to his Jean, he is survived by four daughters: Terese ("Terry") of East Lansing, Bonny of Champaign, Illinois, Marcy (Doug) of Kirksville, Missouri, and Geneva ("Genny") (Chris) of Vienna, Virginia. Also surviving are six grandchildren and one great granddaughter: Marcy, Reese, and Peter Havlatka, Will Murphy, and Benjamin and Samuel Looker, and Reese's daughter April. Two sisters also survive him: Grace Tanner of Columbus, Ohio, and Lucia Sims of Lawrence, Kansas.
Much of his work as a scholar was in 16th and 17th century history. He wrote books on John Calvin, on the Reformation in Scotland, as well as the sociology of religion, and served as president of the 16th Century Studies Conference. Locally, he was president of the MSU chapter of the Honors Society Phi Kappa Phi. In retirement he served as president of the Michigan State University Retirees Association. In a lighter vein, he wrote occasional pieces one running and religion, on church growth and decline, on ecumenical issues, and doggerel from the family Christmas cards.
He will be remembered as a kind man who tried to blend humor and faith in whatever he did, whether playing a game, running, singing, or teaching. He enjoyed playing golf, tennis, and softball with his friends, but was not avid at his games. He believed that nature betrayed, but did not parade, its creation and sustenance by God, and that the same God spoke to him and called him to ministry by Jesus of Nazareth.
His family are peaceful in the knowledge that he will be playing baseball with his youthful body in the hereafter on God's team.
Fred's family will greet friends after the service of Celebration of the Resurrection at Eastminster Presbyterian Church 1315 Abbot Rd., East Lansing, MI, on Saturday, June 19, at 2:00 p.m.
The service will also be livestreamed on the church's YouTube page: https://www.youtube.com/c/eastminsterpresbyterianchurcheastlansing.
Those desiring may make contributions in memory of Fred to Church World Services, cwsglobal.org; Eastminster Presbyterian Church, www.eastminsterchurch.org, or The Assistance Program of the Board of Pensions, www.pensions.org/yourpath-to-wholeness/assistance-program/giving.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.greastlansing.com for the Graham family.
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