George Kester Graves

The long life of George Kester Graves, age 94, came to an end on February 21, 2011. George was born in Pomona, Kansas on August 13, 1916, son of Percy Earl and Edna Graffham Graves. He spent his early years on the farm of his parents in the Greenwood neighborhood and attended Greenwood school. He graduated from Pomona High School in 1935. During the Dust Bowl years, he worked as a farmhand for his maternal grandparents in Beaver County, Oklahoma. He was an Army veteran of World War II, serving from mid-1942 to mid-1943. After training at Camp Roberts, California, he was stationed in the Aleutian Islands. In recent years, he was recognized by the Governor and Adjutant General of Alaska for his services in defending the future state from the invading Japanese. After receiving a medical discharge, George worked at the North American B-25 bomber plant in the Fairfax district of Kansas City, Kansas. He was married to Vera Ozenberger on July 1, 1944 in Kansas City, Kansas. They spent their early years of married life farming in Beaver County, Oklahoma. In September 1948, they moved to a farm northwest of Ottawa. In addition to being a farmer-stockman, George worked at the Sunflower Army Ammunition Plant during the Korean and Vietnam conflicts, and for the local Pepsi-Cola bottler from 1956 to 1966. His last job prior to retirement was at Ransom Memorial Hospital. In their later years, George and Vera moved to a home in Ottawa and to Ottawa Retirement Village in 1997. George was preceded in death by his parents, a sister, Evelyn Collins of Ottawa, and a brother, Kennedy L. Graves, of Topeka. He is survived by one son, Leon Graves of Topeka, one sister-in-law, Kathleen Graves of Topeka, and several nieces and nephews. George was a longtime member of Warren C. Black American Legion Post #60 of Ottawa. SERVICE: Funeral Services will be held from Dengel & Son Mortuary 2:00 p.m. Friday, February 25, 2011. IN STATE: Mr. Graves will lie in state at the Dengel & Son Mortuary 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. Thursday and after 8:00 a.m. Friday, where the family will meet with friends 1:00 to 2:00 p.m. prior to the service hour. CEMETERY: Greenwood Cemetery, Franklin County, Kansas. MEMORIALS: The family suggests memorial contributions to Midland Hospice c/o Dengel & Son Mortuary, 235 S. Hickory, Ottawa, Kansas 66067. Condolences may be e-mailed to the family through dengelmortuary@sbcglobal.net.