Buren Leon Graves

1935 - 2023

Buren Leon Graves
December 27, 1935 - October 18, 2022
Riverbank, California - Buren Leon Graves was born Dec 27, 1935, the second son of Aubel and Ruth Graves in Turlock California. He passed from this life on October 18, 2022.
Leon, as he was known to friends and family, was raised in Turlock. His family moved to Modesto in 1952 and he graduated in the first graduating class from Thomas Downey High School in June of 1954. After a short stint at Modesto Jr College, Leon joined the US Navy in August of 1954. He was stationed on the USS Mansfield in San Diego/Long Beach, Calif and later was a corpsman at the Oak Knoll US Naval Hospital in Oakland and an aid to the rear admiral that was the chief medical officer to the 12th naval district.
In 1956 Leon married Julia Clemens. They had 3 children, Dennis, Tammy, and Kimberly. After the Navy, Leon went to work for Franklin Optical as an optician. In 1967 Leon made a career change and went to work as a pharmaceutical rep for Armour Pharmaceutical and Squibb Pharmaceutical. In 1972 Leon returned to the optical industry and opened Spectacles Unlimited in Modesto.
In 1977 he married Joy Woolsey. They both worked for Kaiser Permanente in Sacramento. Leon was an optical manager and contact lens fitter. Leon and Joy retired from Kaiser and moved to Maynardville, TN in 1997. They moved back to California in 2011 and settled in Riverbank just prior to Joy's passing.
At 77 Leon tried online dating and met his partner for the remainder of his life, Marlene Latham. Together they traveled extensively including several cross-country trips, visiting family and friends, and seeing many historical sites.
Leon was very active in several community service organizations. Lions Club, Clampers, Elks Club, VFW, American Legion, and Shriners. Leon was a history buff and was a member of the Union Co Historical Society and Turlock Historical Society. While living in Tenn. he spent countless hours restoring graves of deceased veterans. He loved photography and entered some of his photos in Stanislaus County Fair where he won several blue ribbons and honorable mentions.
Leon was preceded in death by his parents, brother Ernest Graves, wife Joy Graves and stepson Troy Hill. He leaves behind his partner Marlene Latham, children Dennis (Lorianne) Graves, Tammy (Jeff) Harris, Kimberly (Allen) Ford, stepson Tracy Hill, 10 grandchildren and 9 great-grandchildren.
Celebration of Life to be held January 14th, 1:00 PM at the Modesto Elks Lodge 1282, 645 Charity Way, Modesto, CA. In lieu of flowers please donate to American Cancer Society or your local Hospice.