He was born on April 17, 1933, the son of the late Chester H. Graham and Bertha E. Graham and preceded in death by his devoted wife of 60 years, Barbara J. Graham in 2013.
Originally from Lewistown, PA, Ron enlisted in the US Navy during the Korean War. After he completed training at the Naval Training Center in Bainbridge, MD, he enrolled in Submarine School in New London, CT. His first assignment was in Norfolk, VA on board the USS Requin.
In 1953, he returned to Bainbridge to attend Class “A” Yeoman School where he learned administrative skills. Ron traveled to Key West, FL where he was assigned to the USS Trumpetfish. Subsequent assignments to Squadron Four and Flag Administrative Unit, home-ported in Norfolk, led him to a post in which he was selected to represent the admiral. That post required him to move to Paris, France to work at NATO. He received the rank of ensign under the Limited Duty Officers Program.
Ron took his family with him to France so they could experience the people and culture together. Both sons attended French grade schools.
After Paris, he attended Officer Candidate School in Newport, RI, and served as personnel officer and ship’s secretary aboard the USS Arcadia.
Ron took his family overseas once again, to Scotland, where he was assigned as the secretary to submarine Squadron Fourteen.
He retired from the Navy and spent the next fifteen years as a Civil Servant in PA government.
Ron is survived by his sons Scott A. Graham (Christa) and David A. Graham (Karyn), his six grandchildren, Erin Blindenbacher (Kris), Emily Mihelich (Sam), Peter Graham, Amanda Elder (Matt), Melanie Peters (Mike), Carly Erbrick (Kyle) and his eight great grandchildren, Leo and Gus Blindenbacher, Effie and Zoe Mihelich, Graham and Thea Elder and Cora and Ella Peters.
The family is holding a private service. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Wounded Warrior Project.
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