Richard Coleman Graham

Born in the small town of Christiansburg Virginia, on June 21, 1932, which is the first day of summer, the longest day of the year, and some years, Father's Day. It is also on the cusp between Cancer and Gemini. Could there, therefore, be any doubt that his life would be anything but normal?

A retired US Foreign Officer with 31 years of service. He was preceded in death by his parents Joseph Thurman Graham and Edna Marjorie Graham, his sister Jean Francis Rhudy, his son Brian Richard Graham, and grandson Eric Richard Graham. Left to cherish his memory are his wife Marilyn Masear Muyshondt Graham; his children Bruce Graham, Joseph Scott Graham, Marjorie Ann Graham, Albert Muyshondt and Jean-Paul Muyshondt; grandchildren Alex Graham, Carlos Mendez, Amelia Muyshondt, Ava Muyshondt, Jasper Rivera-Graham and Ignacio Alberto Muyshondt, and great grandson Fernando Mendez.

During his career, he was assigned to Embassies in Nigeria, Honduras, Venezuela, Guatemala, Barbados, including seven West Indies countries. Also, to Washington DC on several occasions and to the United Nations General Assemblies in Geneva, La Paz Bolivia, New York and Copenhagen. Directed US Missions in Guatemala and Barbados.

Prior to the Foreign Service, he attended National Business College in Roanoke Virginia, volunteered as a US Marine during the Korean War and worked on the construction of a Strategic Airbase in Libya.

Bachelor of Foreign Trade, American Graduate School of International Management. Bachelor of Arts, Honors Seminar in English Writers, Economics, Dramatic Art at McDaniel College, and Foreign Service Institute, Berkley Springs, WVA, University of Maryland.

After retirement, for five years he worked as an Independent Consultant based in El Salvador. Contracts included with Inter-American Development Bank, the European Union, Caritas (in Mexico), USAID Regional Office in Guatemala, Feed the Children (Guatemala).

After many years in Southport, the family moved to Leland, NC. He served as Chair of one of the Societies within OLLI, a Seniors program associated with UNCW, for five years. He and his wife were members of the British Motor Club for eight years.

His interests included travel, and books, earlier in life he enjoyed water skiing, tennis and gourmet cooking. His friends included people from different countries and they frequently visited each other. He acquired these by serving longer periods in each country to more effectively implement US policy. A frequent comment about him was that when he went into public places he immersed himself in the local culture. Among other goals, he created and served as the first Petroleum and Minerals Attaché in Nigeria, and in a similar function when Venezuela nationalized the Petroleum Industry.

Although he was raised in a religious family, Richard 's belief was that he constantly believed himself to be involved in awe inspiring events (being in the presence of something vast or beyond human scale).

Join us for Richard’s Celebration of Life on Saturday, August 16th, 2025 at 1:00 pm at Peacock - Newnam and White Funeral Home, 1411 N. Howe St, Southport, NC 28461.

In lieu of flowers plant a tree at https://www.treesforachange.com/pages/Richard-Coleman-Graham

Online condolences may be made at www.peacocknewnamwhite.com

Peacock-Newnam & White Funeral and Cremation Service, Southport, North Carolina.

“My father didn’t tell me how to live; he lived, and let me watch him do it.”

Clarence Keland