LT. COL. JAMES EDWIN GRAHAM

LT. COL. JAMES EDWIN GRAHAM Lt. Col. James Edwin Graham, US Army Retired, passed away on 19 January 2016. Jim was born 24 Sept., 1938, in Cumberland County, Ky., to James Hogan and Sue Young (Bertram) Graham. He is survived by his wife of 57 years, Wanda Gay (Fitzgerald), step mother, Else Graham, brother, Col. Steven Graham (wife Kathy); daughter, Teresa Luton, sons, Trent (wife Marilou) and Tory Graham, grandsons, Douglas Luton (wife Emily), Marcus Luton, Ryan Graham, Austin Graham, granddaughter, Ashlee Luton; step grandsons, Christopher Thompson (wife Lindsey), Joey Baron, Jimbert Baron and Jeric Baron, step granddaughter, Catherine Baron; and great grandsons, Preston Thompson, Gabriel Luton and Corrin Luton; and many military and non-military family and friends made over the years. Jim joined the Army reserves at 17 and the regular Army as a corporal after high school. While attending Jungle Warfare School in Panama he coached the battle group Basketball team to the Caribbean Command Championship. Attended Officers Candidate school and was commissioned 2nd Lt. on 15 Feb., 1965. From May 1966 to May 1967 Jim was assigned to 2nd BN 12th Calvary. During his first combat tour in Vietnam he earned a Silver Star, Bronze Star, Purple Heart and was promoted to Captain, From Nov 1968 to March 1969 he commanded Company C 2nd BN 12th Calvary. During his second combat tour in Vietnam he earned a second Silver Star, Bronze Star, Purple Heart and was promoted to Major. He attended Park College in Parkville Missouri where he earned a MBS in Mathematics. He took the family on an overseas tour as a training advisor in Iran 74-76. Attended the Command and General Staff college at Ft. Leavenworth, served as branch Chief of Operations Research Systems Analysis (ORSA) at Ft. Benning. After serving as Post Inspector General at Ft. Leavenworth, Jim retired to pursue a career in real estate. He was Broker/Owner of a Real Estate company in the Kansas City area and former president of the Heartland Multiple Listing Service (MLS) in Kansas City. In 2000 he retired again, and moved to Cookeville, Tenn., where he joined, regularly attended and was baptized at Netherlands Church of Christ. Visitation will be at 12 p.m. Monday, Jan. 25, at Netherlands Church of Christ and memorial service will follow at 3 p.m. Burial service will be held at Arlington National Cemetery, in Arlington, Va. A date has yet to be determined. Flowers are welcome, however, if you prefer you may make a donation in honor of James Graham to the Wounded Warrior Fund, The National Cancer Association, or the Netherland Church of Christ building fund.