William E.B. Graves

William E. B. Graves, a resident of North Bethesda, MD, peacefully left this earth on January 7, 2025. He was 98 years old. He was born on March 11, 1926, in Don, Virginia to the late G. Lynwood Graves and his wife, Lillie M. Graves (Gardner). He graduated from Spotsylvania High School in 1944 and was, like his brothers and so many young men of that time, drafted into the Armed Services to support the United States in World War II. He arrived on the European shores after basic training and became a member of E Company, 376th Infantry, 94th Infantry Division as part of Patton’s Third Army. Upon his return to the States, he took full advantage of the GI Bill and relocated to Washington DC where he enrolled in Strayer College (now Strayer University) and studied accounting. While there, he met and fell in love with his first wife, Betty Gray; she knew he would not propose until he passed the CPA exam and became a partner in an accounting firm. He became partner in Hoye, Smith, Bailey & Co. in Washington DC, later Hoye, Graves, Bailey and Associates. Subsequently, William and Betty married in 1956 and built their home in 1962 in McLean, VA. They had their only child, Ann Margaret, in 1964. Upon Betty’s death in 1992, William remarried in 1993 to Joan Annie Powell; they resided together in their home in North Bethesda until William’s passing.

William was an esteemed CPA for over 60 years in the greater Washington DC area, serving numerous corporations, nonprofit organizations, and families across the area. As a member of the Greatest Generation, he also dedicated his life to his brothers in arms from the 94th Infantry Division Association and the Chesapeake Chapter of the association.

William leaves behind an extended family who will miss him greatly – his loving wife, Joani; daughter Ann Morrison and her husband, LTG John B. Morrison, Jr.; his granddaughters and their spouses – Christine Coffey (Andrew), Katherine Dodds (Taylor), Colleen Morrison, and Kelly Shutler (Philip); three great grandchildren, Kaitlyn Coffey, Owen Dodds, and William (Liam) Dodds; brother Cecil Graves and his wife Mary; eight nieces and nephews; brother-in-law Raymond Deane; and great-nephews Christopher Deane (Megan) and Jason Deane (Karen). He was predeceased by his first wife Betty, his sister Carrie Graves, brothers James and Earl Graves, his nephew Gary Graves, and his niece Ginger Chadduck.

William’s family will receive visitors at National Funeral Home, located at 7482 Lee Highway, Falls Church, VA 22042 from 12 pm to 1 pm on Monday, January 27, 2025. Service and interment will follow at the National Memorial Park at 1 pm. A livestream link will be available through National Funeral Home. Immediately following the funeral, a reception will be held at the Army Navy Country Club, 3315 Blenheim Boulevard, Fairfax, VA 22030.

The family specifically requests no flowers, but should you feel inclined to make a monetary donation in his honor, please consider the 94th Infantry Historical Society (136 Hippocrates Way, Burlington, NJ 08016) or the Fisher House Foundation (www.fisherhouse.org).