Elbert "Gene" Graham

Elbert "Gene" Graham, 90, died April 24, 2014 at the Circle of Life facility in Springdale, Ark. He was born Aug. 16, 1923, in Springdale, Ark., to Eldridge and Josephine Graham. Mr. Graham served in the United States Army Air Corps during World War II as an Aerial Engineer from Nov. 26, 1943, to April 5, 1946. He served with the 561st bomb squadron, 388th bomb group in Greenland, England, Wales, France, Iceland and Austria. In 1944 he completed the course of training for Flexible Gunnery in Kingman, Ariz. He served in the US Air Force Reserves from April 5, 1946, to April 4, 1949 and received a honorable discharge. Mr. Graham then went on to serve in the Army National Guard and was honorably discharged on the 9th day of July 1960. He retired from Southwestern Bell Telephone Company with 36 years service. He also served in multiple capacities with the Communication Workers of America though out his working career. Mr. Grahams professional accreditations included a FCC Radio Telephone Engineering license and graduate of numerous telecommunications schools in the industry. During his lifetime he had served as Justice of the Peace and also in the Washington County Sheriffs auxiliary. He served on the Lowell technical plat review board and the Lowell planning commission after his retirement. He was a member of Scimitar Shrine Temple in Little Rock, Springdale Masonic Lodge #316, and was a 32nd-degree member of the Valley of Fayetteville Scottish Rite. He was preceded in death by his wife, Claudia Graham; son, Larry Graham; granddaughter, Nicole Graham and sister, Patsy Graham. He leaves to cherish his memory: his son and daughter in law, Don and Lynn Graham of Lowell, Ark.; son and daughter in law, Jerry and Marty Graham of Lowell, Ark.; daughter and son in law, Kay and Mike Bradley of Lowell, Ark.; daughter in law, Barbara Graham of Lowell, Ark.; brother, Earl Graham of Oregon; grandchildren, Michele, Melinda, Tera, Donya, Heath; great-grandchildren, Payton, Blaine, Hadley, Kinley, Adian, Damion, Helena, Christian, Katelyn, and Addyson, all of Arkansas; and a host of relatives and friends. Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, April 30, 2014, at the Backstrom-Pyeatte Funeral Chapel at 2 p.m. Visitation will be held at the funeral home from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, April 29, 2014. Rev. Harry Hamilton will officiate the service with burial being held at the Friendship Cemetery. Memorials can be made in his name to the Circle of Life Hospice, 901 Jones Road, Springdale, AR 72762. Arrangements are entrusted to the Backstrom-Pyeatte Funeral Home of Springdale. Please visit www.backstrom-pyeatte.com to sign an online guest book.