Roy Marvin Graves

Roy Marvin Graves, 75, of Ooltewah died Tuesday, March 1st , after an extended illness. A faithful husband to the end, his passing came less than two weeks after the death of his beloved wife of 52 years, Sandra. Marvin graduated from Calhoun High School in Calhoun, Ga. While there, his football team won the state championship. In college, at the University of Chattanooga, in addition to playing football, he brought home the wrestling championship in his weight class from the Southeastern Tournament. He received his MBA from Georgia Tech. Mr. Graves served in the 101st Airborne Division and retired after 20 years as a Lieutenant Colonel in the US Army. His last two career positions were served at the Pentagon.Following his Army service he moved his family to Ooltewah, Tennessee. Following his “retirement,” he taught at Cleveland State Community college, was a Personnel Manager at Planters-Nabisco where he retired again, and then went back to work as a Plant Manager at FLR Hosiery before his final retirement to devote himself in service for Christ. He did this with not only his daily living but working with the Gideon Bible ministry, the Rock of Ages Prison Ministry, and mission trips. He and his family lived in Ooltewah for 35 years. During that time, he was a member of Brainerd Hills Baptist Church and Ooltewah Baptist Church. Marvin was an avid tennis player and held memberships at both Manker Patton Tennis Club and The Racquet Club. He trained bird dogs and loved his many outings hunting pheasant and quail. He also ran five miles almost every day of his life, competed in road races and biked. Marvin was a gifted teacher, he taught Sunday School and English As A Second Language. Marvin was preceded in death by his wife Sandra Dew Graves, his parents Avery and Myrtle Graves, and a nephew Alex Carroll. He is survived by three daughters and sons-in-law, Cindy and Gary Lange, Sharon and John Curry, and Nancy and Jeff Wahler; eight grandchildren, Dallas, Holly, Dustin, Gary (Cassie) Lange, Phillip and Cassie Curry, Kelsey and Christopher Wahler; one great-grandchild Lucy; and brothers and sisters, Russell and Anne Graves, George Graves , Wynelle and Charlie Middlebrooks and Linda Graves; and several nieces and nephews. Please visit www.heritagefh.com to share words of comfort with the family. Memorial contributions may be made to The Gideons International, P O Box 16041, Chattanooga, TN 37416; Alzheimer’s Association, 7625 Hamilton Park Drive Ste 22, Chattanooga, TN 37421 or Ooltewah Baptist Church. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 AM Friday, March 4, 2011 at Ooltewah Baptist Church with Rev. Larry Williams and Rev. Chris Gaither officiating. Interment will follow in National Cemetery. Phillip Curry, John Curry, Gary William Lange, Dallas Lange, Gary Lange, Dustin Lange, Jeff Wahler and Christopher Wahler will serve as pallbearers. The family will receive friends from 4 – 8 PM Thursday at the funeral home and one hour prior to the service at the church on Friday. Arrangements by Heritage Funeral and Cremation Services, 7454 E. Brainerd Road, Chattanooga, Tennessee.