Darlene A. Grafton

Darlene was born April 25, 1933 to Alva and Elva (Heldt) Besing in Evansville, Indiana. She graduated from Central High School in 1950 and Evansville College, now University of Evansville, in 1954. She was a member of Beta Sigma Omicron Sorority which is now Zeta Tau Alpha.

She married Edward Stanley (Stan) Grafton on December 25, 1952. Her husband preceded her in death November 7, 2002. She was also preceded in death by her parents, her son, Gregory, her brothers, Wayne, Warren, and Carroll and their wives, as well as her brother-in-law, Jerry Purdie.

She is survived by five sons, Kemit (Jeanette) of Edmund, OK, Brent (Bonnie) of Evansville, IN, Mark (Sonya) of Chesapeake, VA, Rodney of Evansville, IN, Tad (Lynette) of Indianapolis, IN and daughter-in-law, Cindy Grafton of Albuquerque, NM. She is also survived by grandchildren, Martha Grafton of Luther, OK, Todd (Melinda) Remley of Evansville, Tim Remley of the Philippines, John (Sara) Grafton of Oakwood, OH, Jenni (Jason) Radke of Indianapolis, IN, Nathan Grafton of Bradenton, FL, Matthew (Katie Cantrell) Grafton of Portland, OR, Aaron (Carrie) Smith of Kinston, NC, Travis (Beth) Smith of Topeka, KS, Zoe Grafton of Albuquerque, NM, Miracle-Eden Grafton, Cinque’ (Jaileene) Carter, Jermaine (Nohemi) Weekes, and Rashida Weekes of Chesapeake, VA, Philip (Christine) Grafton of Centertown, KY, Erica (Brad) Coomes of Evansville, IN, Juliet Grafton of Evansville, IN, Colleen Grafton of Rose Hill, IA, Valerie (Zach Schafer) Grafton of West Hartford, CT, and Holly (Brandon) Robling of Boonville, IN. Darlene is survived by 27 great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild, with another on the way. Lastly, she is survived by her sister-in-law, Jane Grafton Purdie. Darlene has been known to say, “I have a big footprint!”

An important part of Darlene’s life was the over 20 years she spent as an Air Force wife while raising six boys, two of which also joined the military. During this time she actively volunteered at each base for the churches and the schools. She was involved in PTA’s, scouting, women’s organizations, and sharing her love for cooking. When her husband retired from the military in 1978, she helped her husband start a property management company known as Six Sons Properties in Evansville. She worked in this business for 27 years (1978-2005).

Darlene was a member of Methodist Temple, United Methodist Women (now United Women in Faith), and Downtown Kiwanis, serving leadership roles in each.

In 2013 Darlene was diagnosed with throat cancer and subsequent surgeries left her unable to swallow and she had to depend on a feeding tube for all her nutrition. This did not stop her, she continued to have a weekly “Grandma’s Night” where she cooked for anywhere from 10 to 20 or more even though she could not eat what she cooked. Just a few weeks before she passed, she made a cheesecake for Grandma’s Night celebration of a great granddaughter’s birthday. For her 90th birthday the family created a cookbook filled with her recipes, a sweet gesture for a woman whose life was devoted to her loved ones.

Days before her passing she told a granddaughter, “I had a happy childhood. I had a happy marriage. I have a wonderful family. I’ve experienced everything there is to experience in life. The only thing I haven’t experienced yet is death. I’m excited to experience it. I think it will be beautiful.”

Visitation will be from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. with funeral service at 6:00 p.m. on Thursday, April 30, 2026 at Methodist Temple, 2109 Lincoln Avenue, Evansville, IN, with Pastor Randy Moore officiating. Alexander Funeral Home East Chapel is in charge of Darlene’s final arrangements.

Memorial contributions may be made to United Women in Faith, Methodist Temple, 2109 Lincoln Avenue, Evansville, IN 47714.

Condolences may be made online at

www.AlexanderEastChapel.com