Samuel Lyle Graham

GRAHAM, Samuel Lyle, of Easton, Md., died at the Memorial Hospital, Easton, on Friday, February 27, 2009. He was 93. Born on October 28, 1915 in Kenbridge, Va., he was the son of the late Samuel L. Sr. and Natalie Hardy Graham. After graduating from Farmville High School in Farmville, Va. in 1933, he then attended the University of Richmond through 1937, before starting his professional football career. He played for the Philadelphia Eagles in 1940 and 1941. Joining the U.S. Navy in 1941, he served in the South Pacific as a PB4 pilot. He was honorably discharged as a Lt. jg. in 1945, having been injured in the line of duty. On January 1, 1945 he married Mavis Behrens, a Navy nurse, in Farmville, Va. Following his release from the Navy, Mr. Graham started his business career. First with the Philip Morris Co. in Louisville, Ky. for eight years, then the R.H. Macy's Ind. Inc. of New York City and Atlanta, then Milprint Ind. of Milwaukee, Wis. He finished his career with Philip Morris Corporate in New York as a vice president. Mr. Graham retired and the family moved to Easton in 1975. Mrs. Graham died in September 2007. Mr. Graham is survived by four children, S. Lyle Graham, M.D. of Louisville, Ky., Thomas Hardy Graham of Altus, Okla., Dorothy Graham Reddy of Baltimore, Md. and John R. Graham, Ph.D. of Farmville, Va.; one brother, Lewis Graham of Texas; and one sister, Sarah Wells of Mississippi; seven grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. Funeral services will be held at the Fellows Helfenbein and Newnam Funeral Home P.A. Easton, Md. on Tuesday, March 3, 2009 at 11 a.m. Graveside services will be in Farmville, Va. on Wednesday, March 4 at 11 a.m. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the Talbot Hospice Foundation, 586 Cynwood Drive, Easton, Md. 21601. www.fhnfuneralhome.com
This obituary was originally published in the Richmond Times-Dispatch.