Homer L. Graff Jr., MD

HOMER L. GRAFF, JR., M.D., was received into the loving arms of God on October 31, 2016. He was born on November 2, 1925, in Texla, Texas to Bessie Bridges Graff and Homer L. Graff, Sr. Homer grew up in Beaumont and excelled academically at South Park High School, graduating in 1942 at the age of 16. While in high school, he taught Sunday school at the age of 15, and he worked at a radio station in Beaumont, where he began a lifelong love of classical music and opera. He attended Baylor University on a Naval ROTC scholarship and considered entering the ministry, but due to the needs of WWII he joined the Navy as an ensign in June 1945. He spent the latter part of the war ferrying ships around the central and western Pacific. After the war, Homer returned to school to finish his undergraduate degree at Texas Christian University and began medical school at Baylor College of Medicine. He was doing his medical rotations at the Veterans Administration Hospital in Houston when he met the future love of his life, Puerto Rican beauty Dora Villafane, in the lunch room. He thought Dora, a recent TCU graduate with a degree in Laboratory Technology, was the most beautiful and sweetest girl he had ever met. He continued taking her to lunch and fell in love. After a couple of months he asked her to marry him. She said “yes,” the beginning of a loving 55-year marriage. Homer was once asked if he had ever been married before. “Life is too short for more than one marriage,” he responded. Homer was in Baylor College of Medicine’s first graduating class in otolaryngology in 1951, and he and Dora moved to the Panama Canal Zone, where he performed his medical residency at Gorgas Hospital. He continued his residency in otolaryngology at Indiana University from 1953 to 1956. It was there that their first son, Mark, was born. Homer and Dora returned to Houston, where he opened his practice in otolaryngology (ENT). He initially practiced in the Medical Center but realized that people and patients were moving out to the suburbs. Settling in southwest Houston, he opened an office in the Bellaire area and was on the staff of Memorial Southwest Hospital. He later moved his office to Memorial City and was on the staff of Memorial City Hospital, which is now Memorial Hermann Memorial City Medical Center. He was a member of the Pan American Allergy Society and was an early pioneer in the use of Sub-Lingual Immune Therapy for the treatment of allergies. He continued working until he retired in 2002 at the age of 77. Homer is predeceased by his wife, Dora, and his son, Mark Ashley Graff. He is survived by his brother: Jerry Clinton Graff, children and grandchildren: Philip Gerard Graff; Laura Graff Stredny, son-in-law Albert George Stredny and their children, Tara Stredny Mueller and her husband Tyler Mueller, Christina and George; Paul Stephen Graff and his children, Jennifer and Megan, Jennifer’s daughter Grace; and Hans Peter Graff, daughter-in-law Paramy P. Graff and their children Elizabeth, Catherine and Isabel. The profound sorrow of his children, grandchildren, extended family and friends are requited by the knowledge of his profound faith in Jesus Christ, acknowledging the fact that separations by death are only temporary and he is now with his loving Creator, beloved wife Dora and son Mark. Funeral Services will be held at Tallowood Baptist Church (555 Tallowood Rd, Houston, TX 77024) on Thursday, November 3, 2:00 pm, followed by a burial service for family and friends at Memorial Oaks Cemetery (13001 Katy Fwy). In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Tallowood Baptist Church or Baylor College of Medicine.