Frances Gertrude Graham passed away peacefully on March 22, 2018 at Borgess Gardens.
Born in Cranberry Township Pennsylvania, February 1, 1917 to Harvey and Rosa Graham, Fran was a loving and caring Aunt, Great Aunt and Friend to all. Born into a family of 4 brothers, Fran knew how to hold her own and demonstrated her independent streak from an early age. She loved to play baseball, hike, fish and yes, throw stones. Fran knew what she wanted for her future and after high school graduation with honors and business college, she entered the Armed Service as one of the first WACs to serve in World War II. Fran was stationed in North Africa and Italy. Upon her return she entered the government workforce in Washington, D.C. She also worked for a time as a Secretary to the Director of Atomic Bomb Testing in Nevada. She retired from government service and the Federal Defense Logistics Service Center where she worked as Cataloger for the Nato Countries. After retirement, she served for many years as a volunteer with the Kalamazoo Department of Social Services.


Fran was much loved by her extended family of nieces and nephews. We have fond memories of Saturday morning with Fran who invented many characters and stories for us. She never passed up the opportunity to play with a kid whether it was outdoors or indoor board games. She was a good friend to many and you could definitely count on her to show up for duty in times of trouble. Fran had the unique ability to carve out a good life for herself no matter what changed in her fortune or health. She made the best of it and soldiered on.

We will miss her smile, her laugh, her ability to converse intelligently on many subjects and her sense of humor.

Fran is survived by nephews and nieces, Thomas and Margaret Graham (Grand Rapids), Richard and Susan Graham and Mary Graham (Kalamazoo). She also leaves nephews, and nieces in Pennsylvania, Richard and Bonnie Graham, Janet and John Elchison, James and Janine Graham (Ohio) and many great and great, great nieces and nephews in Michigan and Pennsylvania.

Fran is predeceased by her brothers, John, Melvin, Richard and Robert Graham. Fran is the perfect example of a long and good life well lived. Fran has been cremated. There will be an interment ceremony for Fran in July at Fort Custer. Memorials may be made to the Kalamazoo Loaves and Fishes, 901 Portage St. Kalamazoo, MI 49001.

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