Charlie Lee Graham Jr.

An exceptional man: Poet, brilliant scholar, educator, humanitarian. Loving husband, partner & best friend to Lauralyn Kuulei Woolf Graham for 57 yrs; Wonderful Father and best friend to Bronwyn Leilani Graham Duteil, his primary caregiver; Grandfather “Papa” and mentor to Noah Graham Kealoha Duteil and Audrey McKenna “Anela” Duteil; Big brother to Karen Graham Tillman; nephew to Belle Graham Simms. Brother-in-law to Nicki Woolf Warner and Susan Tully Howery (Bill). Charlie leaves behind incredibly special cousins, nieces, nephews, and dear friends.

Preceded in death by his parents, Ina D. (Geer) and Charlie Lee Graham, Sr.; mother-in-law, Winona Leilani (Young) Woolf; brother, Nolan Gregory Graham; brother-in-law, Stephen Tillman, both of Florida; Grandparents, Willie Porter and Trasda Ruth (Grissom) Graham, Robert Thurman, and Luvada (Randolph) Geer, all of Tennessee, and the beloved aunts, uncles, and cousins who departed before him.

Born in Sparta, Tennessee, his family moved to Dayton, Ohio when he was a child, on to Beavercreek before settling in Centerville/Washington Township. A 1965 graduate of Centerville High School, he proudly represented CHS in algebra, government, and history at state competitions. A lifelong scholar, he received his BS in Education and MS. Ed Degrees from Wright State University. During his undergraduate studies he was the Chairman of WSU Inter Club Council; Vice president of WSU Student Education Association; University Council Student Representative; and a member of the Theta Delta Phi fraternity. He would go on to a lengthy career with Dayton Public Schools and the Board of Education, as custodian, groundskeeper, teacher, department chair, and administration supervisor.

Charlie left Dayton Public Schools in 2015 (after 48 years of service) and the role of Executive Director of state and federal grant programs, overseeing Title I, II, III, IV, V, Headstart, Montgomery County Juvenile Detention Center, State ECE, Federal ECE, non-public programs, state disadvantaged programs and the district’s liaison contact for the Ohio Department of Education.

Recipient of the Outstanding Teachers of America (1972, 1974)

Recipient of the Outstanding Educator for Ohio by NASFEP (2013)

Recipient of the United States Congress American Flag (flown over the U.S. Capitol) sponsored by U.S. Representative Mike Turner (2013)

Honored by Dayton Board of Education (2014)

We honor and salute him for his contributions to the children and teachers for whom he cared deeply. Charlie was a man admired by his students and peers alike, who carried himself with kindness, honor, and dignity. He was a treasure who should be remembered

for the care he showed his students, his charity for the community and the love he felt for his family and friends.

In addition to his career in education, Charlie worked as a Realtor, real estate trainer, manager, and marketing director for 30 years, with a focus on new home and residential sales, alongside his wife Laura. Charlie grew up accompanying his father and uncle on construction jobs, learning firsthand how to build a house from the ground up. He loved building homes and was an asset to Laura as they sold new construction together with area builders.

Following serious illness over the last two years, he was nursed back to health by a caring team at Kettering Hospital, doctors, nurses, therapists, and Hope Home Health Care staff. Charlie was grateful to his nurses who inspired him to author poems about their time together. He worked diligently and made incredible strides to get back on his feet. These experiences gave way to great creativity and inspiration; with a new lease on life, he lived each day to the fullest. He had been writing poetry since high school, but his writing had taken on new meaning, with more opportunities to reflect and share.

He recently put together a “Grandfather’s Memories” book for his grandson Noah, in which he wrote: “When I’m gone, I believe the Joy and Love I have extended to others will continue to impact the lives of unknown generations.” We believe this to be true, knowing that Charlie touched thousands of lives for the better.

Charlie’s wealth of knowledge was exemplary, but even greater was his kindness, which had no end. He loved his family and friends ardently. He cherished and studied his family’s Hawaiian heritage and culture. Listening to Hawaiian music daily, sharing books on Hawaii with friends new and old, playing his ukulele. He was truly a practitioner of the Aloha Spirit. Charlie would say “How can you spread joy today?” and “May your day be filled with joy!” Always positive, full of light and Aloha.

Proud of his Tennessee roots, Charlie was an avid University of Tennessee football and basketball fan. He told early childhood stories of days playing along railroad tracks, dirt roads and the Calfkiller Riverbanks, near his grandfather’s former farm. It was normal to see Charlie representing the Vols Big Orange in attire, along with an Aloha shirt. He loved the Great Smoky Mountains and the rolling, forested hills of TN. Genealogy was another passion he indulged in, tracing his roots from Scotland and the UK to early settlements in America. He preserved these memories in treasured poems.

At the time of his passing, Charlie was organizing his poems to be published as a book. On his final day, he shared a poem and spent hours being a caring friend to his neighbors. He was upbeat and excited about the future. His passing was unexpected, but God called him home to Heaven. We will miss him greatly and remember him with love always.