Gary Van Grafton

Funeral services for Van Grafton, age 78 of Ruston, are scheduled for 10:00 AM, Monday, June 30, 2025 at Ruston Church of Christ with Jim Davis officiating. Burial will follow in Greenwood Cemetery in Ruston under the direction of Owens Memorial Chapel Funeral Home of Ruston.
Van was born on August 9, 1946, and passed away, surrounded by his family on June 25, 2025, at Ochsner LSU Health Shreveport. Van graduated from Ruston High School in 1964 and married his high school sweetheart, Jan Jones, in 1965. He attended Louisiana Tech before starting a career with South Central Bell (which later became AT&T) in 1966. Van retired as a senior switching equipment technician at the AT&T Central Office in Ruston, after 46 years of service. He also proudly served in the Louisiana Army National Guard. Van was a very proud Papaw and enjoyed spending time with his grandkids, especially fishing, and also hunting and shooting with them on his land at Grafton Crossing in Bernice, Louisiana. Van was a faithful member of the Ruston Church of Christ, serving as both a deacon and elder for many years. One of his greatest joys was having baptized all three of his grandchildren. Van also loved working with students through the Christian Student Center, the college ministry of the Ruston Church of Christ.
Left to cherish his memory are his loving wife of 59 years, Jan Grafton; children, Amy and husband Jerry White, and Jill Grafton Burditt; grandchildren, Jacob Burditt, Luke Burditt, and Grace White; sister, Donna and husband Robby Griffin; brother, Benji Grafton and wife Sheree; sister-in-law, Jerry Harville; nieces and nephews, Todd Griffin (Cristina), Tiffany LeBlanc (Matt), Vince Grafton (Jennifer), Ben Grafton (Abigail), Tim Harville (Brooke), and Peter Harville (Emily); and numerous dearly loved cousins, great-nieces, great-nephews, and friends.
Van was preceded in death by his parents, Vincent Van Grafton and Maybelle (Telford) Grafton, and numerous cherished uncles and aunts.
Serving as pallbearers will be: Jacob Burditt, Luke Burditt, Todd Griffin, Vince Grafton, Ben Grafton, Tim Harville, Peter Harville and Matt LeBlanc. Honorary pallbearers: Tommy Phillips and Scott Easley.
Visitation will be held from 4:00 PM until 6:00 PM, Sunday, June 29, 2025, at Owens Memorial Chapel in Ruston. Memorials can be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital or 4 Paws Rescue, Inc. of Lincoln Parish. To leave an online memorial message for the family, please visit: www.owensmemorialfuneralhome.com
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