Dick Graef

Clemence Richard (Dick) Graef passed away on Monday, the second of June. He was 84 years of age. Dick was born on August 27, 1940 in Lockhart Texas to Otelia Ebling Graef and Gilbert Walter Graef. Dick grew up in Lockhart on the family farm. From an early age Dick learned how to run a farm and to keep the farm equipment in working order. Dick did not always repair things the way they were originally engineered; but reengineered the repair by the Dick method.
Dick attended school in Lockhart and graduated from Lockhart High School in 1958. He attended Southwest Texas State University (now Texas State University). He received his BS in physics and chemistry in 1963. He received his MS in Physical Chemistry from the same university in 1965. At Southwest Texas State University, he met the love of his life, Betty Howell Graef, and they shared 63 years of marriage.
Dick was hired by Alvin Community College in 1964 to teach physics and at various times taught math and chemistry there also. Dick was required to teach one physics class a day at Alvin High School. Dick retired from teaching at Alvin Community College in 2008; the only job he ever had.
In his years at Alvin Community college Dick made everlasting friendships with his fellow science building faculty members. His beloved friends from those years are John Holtz, Joe Phillips, and the original gang of four- Dick, Steve Wheeler, Bill Bitner and Bill Horine. Later Dwight Rhodes and John Matula joined them. These friends enjoyed fishing, hunting trips and building projects throughout their times together.
These trips and projects with Dick always resulted with epic stories about the trials and tribulations of each project. The non hunting members of the Science building gang were Dora Devery and Betty Graef. The Science Building gang joined in many other activities such as geology and biology field trips. Trips to the Med. Center, NASA, Moody Gardens and various trips to regional and state seminars produced much enjoyment and forever memories among this gang of special group of friends.
Dick was joyous with the birth of his son, Eric in 1969 and his daughter Laura in 1971. Dick was the cool dad to Eric's and Laura's friends and the children that lived in his Mustang Community neighborhood. Included were group trips to Galveston and Surfside beaches to play in the gulf with fishing and crabbing thrown in for good measure. Also, the many summer afternoons spent at the Wieting's pond house and pond are favorite memories, as well as all holiday and graduation celebrations. Nieces and nephews remember tubing trips on the San Marcos River and extended family vacations at beach houses at Surfside and Galveston Beaches.
Dick was a bright light in the universe for his family, friends and students over the years. We were all stunned when that light went out. We are all grateful for the wonderful years we had together with Dick.
Dick is preceded in death by: parents Otelia and Gilbert Graef; son Eric; daughter Laura; sister Gwen; brothers - in law David Howell and Cole Howell; and his wife's parents Nevet and Agnes Howell.
Dick is survived by: his devoted wife, Betty Howell Graef; his sister Claudia Graef Zaccarino (Terry); cousins Judy Davis, Scott Graef and Karen Graef; nephews Kenneth, Russell, Phillip, Matthew and John-Lewis; nieces Marlene, Rebecca, Debbie and DeDee. Also, numerous grand nephews and nieces and lots of extended families of Dick and Betty.
A memorial service for Dick will be held at a future date.