Graydon was born in Le Mars, Iowa, to Ralph and Clarabelle Stinton. In his early years they moved their family (Graydon and three older sisters) to Santa Monica, CA, where he loved exploring the small town and surrounding area with his boyhood friends; bodysurfing, playing tennis and diving off the Santa Monica Pier. In high school he was active in sports, starring as halfback on the Santa Monica High Football Team. While attending ‘SAMOHIi’, Graydon met Hazelle Marie Fleming, his future wife.
After graduating in 1942, World War II intervened and Graydon joined the armed forces where he served as a lineman in the Signal Corp in North Africa and then in Italy. While traversing Italy, he developed a fondness for the country, the people and clam linguini. After returning to Santa Monica, he and Hazelle picked up where they left of and were married. During that time he worked in his father’s neighborhood grocery stores and enrolled at UCLA before seeking employment with Nabisco, where he worked until his retirement.
In 1962, seeking a similar environment to the one they knew growing up, Graydon and Hazelle moved their family to the small town of San Luis Obispo. They embraced their new culture, adding horses, chickens and gardening to the family mix. Using the drafting skills he gained in school, Graydon built a still 'standing true’ barn to house the livestock, joined the local barbershop quartet and he and Hazelle were active socially with new ‘tennis’ friends in their adopted town. These friendships and those from their Santa Monica days gave them great joy and lasted the rest of their lives.
When Hazelle passed away in 2003, Graydon travelled a bit, met a new companion and moved to Seattle to be with her. They often took in the city sights, were known as regulars at The Brooklyn Restaurant and he became a Seahawk’s fan. When she passed away in 2016, Graydon returned to his beloved San Luis Obispo to rekindle old friendships and live out the rest of his life. Graydon was a positive man, quick with a quip as well as a smile, a patriot and a supporter of Veterans Affairs.
He is preceded in death by his wife and three sisters, (Hazel, Eva and Lenice) and is survived by his daughter, Stephanie Ann and and son Ralph. They were grateful to be with him during his waning days. He will receive military honors and be buried next to his wife Hazelle at Los Osos Valley Memorial Cemetery. A private memorial will be held for Graydon in June. The family would like to thank friends, family and caregivers for the way they cared for and about Graydon. He will be missed.
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