Roger A. Graham

SAVOY - Roger Arnold Graham, age 89, of Savoy, passed away Thursday, October 16, 2014 at 2:30 pm at the Illinois Veterans Home in Manteno. Visitation will be held from 2-4 pm at Sunset Funeral Home Champaign-Urbana Chapel, 710 N Neil St., Champaign, IL on Thursday, October 23. A funeral service will be held at 4:00 pm following the visitation. Cremation will be entrusted to the care of Sunset Funeral Home following services. Mr. Graham will be laid to rest in the Danville National Cemetery at a future time with military honors. Memorials can be made in his name to the Vineyard Church of Urbana or Samaritans Purse. Roger was born October 2, 1925 in Macomb to Lloyd Ady and Rilla (Chaddock) Graham. He worked on his family's farm and attended school in Ipava until WWII, when he enlisted in the US Army and served in Italy as a Private, Infantryman, Rifleman, Corporal Technician and Engineer in the 2nd Company of the 161st Depot Brigade where he was awarded several medals during that time. He was at sea on his way to the Pacific theater when VJ Day occurred and the war was declared over. Roger completed his service stateside as a Military Policeman and motorcyclist, finishing at the rank of Corporal. Shortly after returning to his family's farm in Ipava, Roger got a job with the Illinois Power Company, working as a supervisor at several coal power stations throughout the state. It was during his time at the Oakwood Power Station that he met Marilyn Ida Drews. The couple started courting and were later married at Trinity Lutheran in Danville on April 28, 1956. Their daughter, Gayle Leslie (Graham) Vivona, was born on October 18, 1957, and they later welcomed their son, Randall Drew Graham on September 16, 1958. Roger retired from Illinois Power in 1987, and soon afterward the couple sold their home in Danville and purchased an RV, spending a number of years enjoying life sightseeing and traveling throughout the US. In later years the couple called Sun City West, AZ their second home, spending most of their winters there. Special trips to Alaska (1988) and Hawaii (2005) allowed them to finish out their quest to see all 50 states. In addition to traveling, Roger loved auto sports, having participated in a number of rally car events back in the 60s and 70s. The Indy 500 remained his all-time favorite event to watch. Roger also enjoyed fishing, boating, playing card games with family, and motorcycling in his free time. Roger was also actively involved in The Vineyard Fellowship both in Arizona and in Urbana when he and Marilyn moved to Savoy in the mid-2000s to be closer to their son and his family. He was also an integral part of his son and daughter-in-laws business, Curtis Orchard located in SW Champaign. Roger is survived by his wife, Marilyn, of Savoy; his daughter, Gayle (Chris) Vivona, of Alameda, CA; his son, Randy (Debbie) Graham, of Champaign; two sisters, Janette Cowley and Margaret Nellis; seven grandchildren, Aaron (Sarah) Graham, Rachel (Jeremy) Coventry, Carissa (Dushan) Katic, Cameron Graham, Lindsay Vivona, Juliana Graham, and Casey Vivona; and three great-grandchildren, Benjamin Graham, Mayara Graham, and Sophia Katic. Roger was preceded in death by his parents, Lloyd and Rilla Graham, two brothers, Willis and Robert, and one sister, Louise Morey. Please join Rogers family in sharing memories, photos and video of his life through his Tribute Wall at www.sunsetfuneralhome.com.