Roy Robert Graham

Roy was born in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma on April 15, 1957, to Joseph Charles and Vera Louise Graham. Roy graduated from Northwest Classen High School in 1975. He attended Oklahoma State University before enlisting in the US Air Force in 1977 where he was assigned to RAF Upper Heyford in England.

Roy married Peggy Ann Felton in Denver, Colorado on July 24, 1982, after a chance encounter on a Greyhound bus. Two children were born to this union: Danielle Renee and Joseph Andrew. The military assigned them to Texas, California and Spain. While stationed in Wichita Falls, Texas he earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Wayland Baptist University. After losing Peggy and the children in a car accident in Spain in 1990, Roy returned to Wichita Falls. He was later sent to RAF Lakenheath in England.

On February 25, 1995, Roy married Laurel Ann Moore in Amarillo, Texas after two mutual friends decided to play matchmaker. He proudly served in the Air Force until retiring in November 1997. He was highly decorated and rose to the rank of Master Sergeant. After his military retirement, two children were welcomed into the family: Abbey Elizabeth and Claire Elise.

Roy worked at Sony Semiconductor for several years before moving to Southwest Research Institute as a Space Systems Principal Engineering Technologist. He genuinely loved his job, the people he worked with and the many projects he worked on over his nearly 20 years at SWRI.

Roy was a member of the Grissom Road church of Christ for over 28 years (formerly known as the Woodlawn Hills church of Christ) and loved the congregation fervently.

Roy was an avid reader with a great love of anything science fiction and fantasy. He was a huge fan of Star Trek and he and his daughter, Abbey, loved sharing Harry Potter books and movies with each other. He was a lover of many genres of music and preferred vinyl to any other music medium. Roy had “mad tea skills” and a love for all zesty and spicey foods. He also loved to share Friday night ice cream with his daughter, Claire.

Roy is preceded in death by his father and mother, JC and Vera Graham; first wife, Peggy and children, Dani and Joey Graham; and siblings Joy Russell and Jack Graham.

Roy is survived by his wife, Laurel; daughters, Abbey Smith (Tristan) and Claire Graham; granddaughter, Maevyn Smith (who recently made Roy a Grahampa); siblings Tamera Muskrat (Bill) and Billy Graham; and many extended family members. Roy is also survived by Jay and Shirley Ledbetter, his second set of parents whom he considered nothing less than family.

A Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, May 11, 2024 at 10:00 AM at Grissom Road church of Christ, 5470 Lost Lane, San Antonio, Texas 78238.