Grace's long life spanned watershed events in the American 20th century. She was born four days after Congress approved the 19th Amendment to the Constitution, which guaranteed women the right to vote. The child of an immigrant father and second-generation American mother, she spoke both English and Armenian in the house. Her husband, Albert Newton, a South Carolina native, fought with the U.S. Army Air Force in the Pacific Theater in World War II before settling into a long career as a barber. She raised her children through the civil rights movement, Vietnam War and Watergate.
As the family grew to include several grandchildren in the 1970s and '80s, the Newton home was the focus of annual holiday gatherings, especially Christmas Eve, when Grace would sit for hours at the piano, singing along with her grandchildren to standards such as "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree" and "Holly Jolly Christmas." She remained fiercely independent in her later years, driving herself to the grocery store, church or to visit friends into her 80s. She enjoyed watching televised sports, particularly the Atlanta Braves and Fresno State basketball and football games.
Grace is predeceased by her husband, with whom she was married 38 years; a brother, Archie Nahigian; and a sister, Dorothy Nahigian.
She is survived by four children: Alice Branam-Vater (Ronald), Albert Newton Jr. (Carol), Burlene Krider (Gerald) and Suzan Johannson; eight grandchildren: Christopher Branam, Julie Adolph (Ronald), David Joseph (Camille), Elizabeth and Alexander Newton, Ariel Foley (Larry) and Jeffrey and Melanie Blackwell.
Grace is also survived by four great-grandchildren: Lily and Maggie Adolph, Nathaniel Joseph and Ian Foley.
The family wishes to thank Grace's caretakers in the last few years of her life, especially Tiffany.
Visitation will be 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, October 8, 2013 at Lisle Funeral Home, 1605 L St., Fresno. Funeral will be 1:00 p.m. on Wednesday, October 9, 2013 at Lisle Funeral Home.
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