Gene Graves

08/26/1934 - 10/06/2022

Gene was born and raised in New Haven, Connecticut to parents Norman L. and Mary Rice Graves. He attended Coventry High School in Rhode Island. Gene joined the United States Air Force in 1953 and proudly served his country as a flight engineer on a C-119 in the European theater. While serving in the USAF, he was stationed at Morrison Air Field in West Palm Beach, Florida (now PBIA), where he met his bride-to-be, native Floridian, Katherine Snyder. They met at a dance at the Lake Worth Casino ballroom. Although Kathy was at the dance on a date with an officer, Gene did not let that minor detail deter him - because for him, it was love at first sight! He found out that she worked at Howley's Restaurant, and became a frequent diner there, until he won her over! After being honorably discharged as a S/SGT in July 1957, he and Kathy were wed on August 17th, 1957 and Gene went to work for Pratt & Whitney in Connecticut. Gene and Kathy decided to make South Florida their home, and raised three children there together, living in Lake Worth and Lake Clarke Shores. Gene was an extremely hard working man and held many jobs in his lifetime, and was very successful at all of them! They included: owning a Texaco gas station; being a long-distance trucker; working for Bristol Myers and Nabisco; owning and running the Breezeway Motel in Lake Worth (never a dull moment there!); owning Steamboat Carpet Cleaning; and in later years, doing pressure cleaning, painting, and handyman work. Gene and Kathy retired to western Lake Worth in the Poinciana community in 2001, where he continued to be a sought-after handyman by many of his neighbors.

Gene's favorite pastime was tinkering and working with tools, and he could fix almost anything. He loved spending hours browsing at stores like Home Depot or Harbor Freight! We joked that his only hobby was work! One of Gene's favorite activities was arm wrestling: He loved to flex his biceps and challenged almost anybody and everybody!!! He was as strong as an ox! He also enjoyed riding his motorcycles, and going 4-wheeling in many of his souped-up trucks! He was a big fan of any type of boxing or fights, and loved FSU football. He enjoyed American History, specifically the Civil War Era, and took several memorable trips with his son-in-law, David, to visit historical battlefields. But family was the absolute most important thing to Gene, and he was fiercely protective of each and every one of them!!

Gene successfully fought prostate cancer back in 2006, but sadly it returned in 2018 and this time, it had spread. Shortly after his second diagnosis, he was able to participate in a Southeast Florida Honor Flight, which he described as one of the greatest days of his life. The Veterans are flown to Washington D.C. to tour the memorials, and receive a Hero's welcome and amazing fanfare everywhere they go!!! Gene always loved to be the center of attention, so he relished every moment!

Gene waged a courageous battle against the cancer for years, but it steadily caught up to him. He spent the last week of his life surrounded by family and friends, at Trustbridge Hospice at Bethesda East Hospital.

Gene was predeceased by his parents and two brothers: Ronald Graves and Norman A. Graves. He leaves to cherish his memory, his wife of 65 years: Katherine Snyder Graves; his three children: Connie Christensen (husband David Egnor), Gary Graves (wife Summer), and Gena Lee Ohman (husband Ron); his five grandchildren: Justin Christensen (wife Sarah), Jennifer Christensen, Janie Ohman Fontaine (husband Drew), Casey Ohman, and Jack Ohman: two great-grandsons: Brecken Christensen and Colton Christensen; and scores of extended family and friends, to whom he was everyone's "Favorite Uncle Gene"

If anyone wishes, donations may be made in Gene's honor, to the "K9's for Warriors" non-profit organization, which trains rescued shelter dogs to be service animals for Veterans that suffer from depression, PTSD and suicidal thoughts.

A funeral service for Gene will be held Monday, October 24, 2022 at 10:30 AM at Dorsey-E. Earl Smith Memory Gardens Funeral Home, 3041 Kirk Road, Lake Worth, FL 33461. An on-site reception will immediately follow. A processional will depart at 1:15 for his graveside military honors service, which will be held at 2:00 PM at South Florida National Cemetery, 6501 S SR 7, Lake Worth, FL 33449.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.dorsey-smithmemorygardens.com for the Graves family.