Graham, Vivian 1926-2005

GRAHAM, LANNING, HARTHOORN, WALTON

Posted By: Marilyn Holmes (email)
Date: 2/17/2010 at 08:08:29

The Grinnell Herald-Register (Grinnell, Iowa) June 9, 2005

VIVIAN GRAHAM

Vivian Graham, 79, of Grinnell, passed away Tuesday, June 7, at Friendship Manor Care Center in Grinnell.

A funeral service will be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, June 11, at the Lynnville Friends Church with the Rev. Jeffrey A. Lee officiating. Casket bearers are her grandchildren, Alan Graham, Ryan Graham, Bradley Graham, Brian Graham, Casey Harthoorn, Corey Harthoorn, Nathan Graham, and Darren Walton. Burial will be at Woodland Cemetery in Lynnville.

Visitation hours will be held from 12 noon to 9 p.m. on Friday at the Smith Funeral Home in Grinnell, with the family present from 5 to 8 p.m.

Memorial contributions may be directed to the Lynnville Friends Church.

Friends may send the Graham family condolence messages by submitting them on the Smith Funeral Home website.

She was born the daughter of David A. White and Nellie L. Lanning on March 11, 1926, near Chelsea, Iowa. She was one-year old when the family moved to a farm south of Grinnell, where she spent her early life. She graduated from Grinnell High School in 1943 and became a teacher at rural schools in Poweshiek County.

She was united in marriage to Norman Wayne Graham on February 23, 1950, at the Oak Grove Friends Church south of Grinnell. The couple farmed south of Grinnell until 1965, when they moved to a farm in the Sheridan Township. After farming there for 17 years, they moved back to her home place in 1979.

She was active in the Lynnville Friends Church and taught Sunday school there. When she was younger, she enjoyed teaching and helping with summer Bible School. She also served as a 4-H leader for several years and was active in Farm Bureau Women's work. She was a member of the Missionary Society and was active in the Lynnville Senior Citizens group.

She is survived by her children, sons Raymond Graham and James Graham, both of Grinnell, Kenneth Graham of Center Point, and daughter Sherry Harthoorn of Lynnville; 12 grandchildren; 1 great-granddaughter; brothers Myron of rural Grinnell, Norman of Ankeny, and Lyle of rural Tama; and her many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband; her parents; and her brother Dale.