Dwight Lamar Walraven

 Dwight Lamar Walraven, age eighty, of the Oostanaula community passed away at his home on September 8, 2022, after several months of declining health.  Dwight was preceded in death by his parents, Dennis Bowles Walraven and Rose Amos Walraven. 

Dwight was born on August 26, 1942, in a cabin on the Walraven family farm in Curryville, Georgia.  His family raised cattle and ran a sawmill.  Dwight grew up fishing, picking cotton, and trapping rabbits for extra spending money.  His connection with trees and land started at an early age.  Before Dwight was even ten years old, his father sent him out into the woods to work under the trusted tutelage of beloved family friends and sawmill employees Roscoe Aker and Leroy Bryant.  He learned the business side of timber from his father and Charlie Parker.  Dwight worked at the family sawmill and timber business while attending college, commuting between home and the University of Georgia, where he graduated with a degree in forestry despite repeatedly butting heads with professors who scoffed at his timber practices from back home. 

  He eventually shuttered the sawmill and launched a career in the real estate and property development business. In 1974, he established Walraven Realty at its current location on South Wall Street in Calhoun, where he enjoyed success both individually and as partner in a number of enduring and special relationships. Dwight also established Northwest Georgia Timber Brokers, using his knowledge and experience in land and forestry to help clients market and manage the trees on their land.

One of Dwight’s greatest hobbies and joys was his garden.  He took tremendous pleasure in sharing with others from his bounty.  If you could not come and take from the garden, he would bring the garden to you.  Declining health did not deter him.  When mobility became an issue, he adjusted the width between garden rows to accommodate his golf cart so he could continue to plant and harvest. 

Dwight is survived by his wife of fifty-six years, Beth Brown Walraven, and by his daughter and son-in-law, Kay and Walter Attaway, and his grandson, Newman.  He is also survived by his brother Edwin Walraven and his wife, Carol, of Sugar Valley, and their sons Bobby Walraven and Brett Walraven.   Additional cousins, nieces, and nephews survive.

The family will receive friends on Monday, September 12^th from 5 PM until 8 PM at Thomas Funeral Home.

Services for Dwight will be conducted Tuesday, September 13th, at 2pm from the Chapel of Thomas Funeral Home.  Reverend Gary Hibberts will officiate the service, which will also include remarks by special friends Colonel James A. Franklin, Steve Ayers, and Jim Givens.  Special friends Scott Everett and Randy Johns will, respectively, provide music and offer prayer.

Pallbearers serving are as follows: David Bryant, Bruce Stocks, Tim Brown, John Graham, Grover Lunsford, and Jeffrey Ables. Honorary pallbearers serving are as follows: Reed Davis, George Crowley, Michael Jinright, Steve Bass, Jeff Jones, and Julio Fernandez. Burial will follow in Fain Cemetery.

You may leave the family online condolences at www.thomasfuneralhomecalhoun.com

Thomas Funeral Home has proudly been entrusted with the care of Dwight Lamar Walraven.