Oscar D. Graham

Col. Oscar D. Graham (USAF, Ret) known throughout his life as O.D. Graham, passed away peacefully in his sleep January 23, 2014. He was a man of intelligence, energy and conviction. He served thirty-two years in the military devoted to his country and its welfare. When he retired from the military he spent twenty years working in the real estate industry providing working people affordable and safe housing and, in what he referred to as his third career, he spent the remainder of his life doing “day trading”: for him a continued source of intellectual stimulation.

He was born in Clay County Illinois on June 5, 1923 and was drafted into the US Army Air Corp in 1943 whereupon he went to Officer Training School. He was assigned to a great many foreign locations during his military career including Germany, Russia and a number of posts in the far East where he concluded his military duty as the commander at the Shi Linko air base in Taiwan. He was awarded a number of medals including the Meritorious Service Medal, the highest military non-combat recognition at the time.

He is survived by his wife of seventy years Wanda L. Graham and by sons Oscar D. Graham II, Bruce A. Graham and his wife Laurel and by his grandsons Kail, Aaron and Dale. He was predeceased by his daughter Charlotte, her husband William Piersen and their daughter Katie.

Obviously, as happens to all of us, his capacity for energetic work diminished but his convictions never did. He continued to believe in God and his country until he died.

Visitation will be held on Tuesday, January 28th from 6 to 8 PM at Forest Park Lawndale Funeral Home and funeral services will be Wednesday, January 29th at 1 PM at the same location.