Joseph B. Graham, Jr.

Joseph B. Graham, Jr. Joe, age 84, a former US Army veteran, a 34 year Southwestern Bell / AT&T employee, a superb antique clock repairman, and loyal husband and father, died of Parkinson's complications on Oct 19, 2010 in San Antonio, Texas.

Joe was born November 16th, 1925 in Dallas, Texas. He was the youngest child of five born to Joseph and Addie Graham. Joe grew up in the rural areas of Wilmer, Gunter, and Sherman, TX during the depression years and learned to be very resourceful. As a farm youth he was responsible for the care of their animals and the 4:30am milking before school. At the age of thirteen Joe wired his grandfather's home and three other local homes that passed government inspection when rural electrification came through that area. He also managed a bicycle newspaper route in his teens and worked in a radio repair shop saving money to go to college.

After graduating from Jefferson Davis High School in Houston, TX in 1943, he was accepted into Texas A&M in College Station on scholarship, but later was drafted into the service Infantry, Ft. Hood at the end of his college freshman year in 1944. Joe was accepted into Infantry Officer Candidate School at age18. He was commissioned as a Training Officer, later sent to Korea for occupational duty as 1st Lieutenant, and eventually released from duty while at Ft. Sam Houston, TX in 1946.

Joe returned to Texas A&M to continue his college education in Electrical Engineering class of '49. While attending Texas A&M Joe married Miss Jean Boone on June 2, 1947. Jean's father, Rev. Mark L. Boone, performed their marriage ceremony, where Joe promised to be faithful to Jean and was so till death for 64 years. After earning his degree from Texas A&M, Joe was quickly hired by Southwestern Bell Telephone Co., but yet again his career was interrupted by war with Korea. Joe was recalled to active duty in Korea in 1951 as Detailed Signal Corp GHQ - Long Lines, in Pusan, Korea where he worked with the telegraph equipment until he was released.

Joe's formal career spanned 34 years for SW Bell and 2 years for AT&T, retiring as 'District Manager - Business Installation and Repair'. During that time he was transferred from Ft. Worth, Dallas, Austin, Corpus Christi, Manhattan NYC, and to San Antonio, TX. During these years Joe and Jean lovingly produced two children, Joe and Jenice Graham, sending both to college and remained active supporters in their activities and grandchildren's lives.

After Joe's retirement from AT&T he was then able to spend his days working with his woodshop equipment. Joe established a clock repair business working out of his home , 'JBG's Antique Clocks', taking care of clients all over San Antonio as well as clock warranty work for local furniture stores.

What his family will fondly recall is that Papa Joe was incredibly gifted and talented with a sharp memory. He could design and make anything with his hands. He had a passion for the details of making old broken things into treasures again and he had the math-minded logic of fixing things like it was a puzzle. He was a faithful and loving husband, father, and grandfather setting excellent moral examples for those that followed. He was a loyal member of Alamo Heights United Methodist Church and went to church until he could no longer walk and his memory failed.

Joseph B. Graham is survived by his wife, Jean Graham of San Antonio, son Dr. Joseph M. Graham and his wife Cynthia Green Graham of Joplin, MO, daughter Mrs. Jenice G. Benedict and her husband Dr. James F. Benedict of Harwood, TX ; His six grandchildren include Leah M. DeHoyos and husband Dr. Jose DeHoyos, Dr. Mark Graham and wife Dr. Tatiana Graham, 1Lt. Cameron S. Graham of Joplin, MO. , James Christopher Benedict, Clayton G. Benedict, and Alison J. Benedict of San Antonio, and great grandchildren Joseph Mark Graham III and Annabella Graham ; his sister Mildred Graham Weatherford. He is predeceased by his parents, Joseph Graham Sr. and Addie Weaver Graham and siblings Willis Graham, Margaret Smith, and Zerilda Cook. The Graham family would like to thank all the many lifelong friends and care givers who have shown so much love and support to Joe and Jean during the 15 years of Joe's Parkinson's illness.

MEMORIAL SERVICE

MONDAY

OCTOBER 25, 2010

11:00 A.M.

ALAMO HEIGHTS UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

825 E. BASSE RD

Memorial Donations can be made to Alamo Heights Methodist Church in the memory of Mr. Joe Graham.