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Walter L. Graves departed this earth on Tuesday, November 20, 2001. He is survived by his wife, Albertina; daughters, Jane McKesson of Colorado Springs, CO and Judith Graves of Nederland, TX; daughter-in-law, Patricia Graves of Colorado Springs, CO; five grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild. Mr. and Mrs. Graves lost their only son, Walter to cancer in 1990. Mr. Graves was born on April 27, 1911 in Chicago, IL. He graduated from Iowa State University in 1933 with a B.S. degree in forestry. He was a member of Kappa Sigma Social fraternity, Alpha Zeta Scholastic Fraternity and Scabbard and Blade Honorary Military fraternity. After graduation he moved to Santa Fe where he served as foreman in a CCC Camp until qualifying as an assistant forest ranger in Pecos, NM. He met his future wife in Santa Fe and they were married in 1934. Walter retired from the U.S. Forest Service in 1972 after over 39 years of service. During his career he served as president of the New Mexico Society of Range Management, president of the Albuquerque chapter of the American Society for Public Administration and was a long time member of the Society of American Foresters. He was also a long time member of the Albuquerque Host Lions Club where he served one term as president. In 1994 he was presented the Melvin Jones Award by Lions International for dedicated service to Lionism. In 1971, Mr. Graves was awarded the Superior Service Award, by the Secretary of Agriculture, for outstanding accomplishment in working with the disadvantaged. At the time of his retirement he was Chief of the Division of Operations in the Regional Office of the southwestern region of the U.S. Forest Service. In 1973 he entered a new career as a real estate agent and retired from that in 1978. Services will be held Saturday, 1:00 p.m., at French Mortuary, University Blvd. Chapel, 1111 University Blvd. NE, with Rev. Clyde Stanfield officiating. Entombment will follow at Sunset Memorial Park, 924 Menaul Blvd. NE. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Lions Eye Bank, 201 Cedar SE, 87108. The Graves family would like to express their gratitude to the nurses and caregivers at Presbyterian Hospital for the loving care given to Walter. French Mortuary, 1111 University Blvd. NE.
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