Robert J. Graff, Jr.

Robert Joe Graff, the son of Robert John Graff and Melanie Ella Grube Graff, was born on October 4, 1932.  The second oldest child, Robert or “Bobby” was raised in Hondo.  He and his high school sweetheart, Patsy Louise Zerr were married on July 20, 1952. 

Bobby started out working at Leinweber’s Department Store right out of high school and in 1952, got an “opportunity” with a cut in pay, to go to work for the Texas Highway Department.  He inspected the construction of many highways and freeways around Medina, Bandera, Bexar, Uvalde, and Frio counties.  He retired in 1992 after 40 years.

He began a second career selling Catholic Life Insurance in 1968 and finally retired on December 31, 2009, after 42 years of dedicated service.

Bobby was a faithful member of St. John’s Catholic Church from 1952 when he married Patsy, until his death.  He served on numerous committees including the construction of the existing church.  He was a fixture in the church attending mass on most Wednesdays and Sundays as well as being involved in the men’s prayer group.

Bobby loved to hunt and fish, and Patsy finally decided to join him in his fishing expeditions.  They bought the lake house on Medina Lake in 1980 after getting to know the Haby’s during the construction of FM 1283 along the East side of Medina Lake.  Bobby was in heaven fishing the beautiful waters of Medina Lake, learning where to catch bass, crappie, and other fish.  They enjoyed hosting many friends and family there.

He and Patsy loved to travel and traveled the world going to Europe many times, visiting Russia, Australia, South America, Canada, and most of the states of the US.

After Patsy died in 2017, although frequently lonely, he enjoyed poker with the guys every Wednesday, fishing with Bobby and Gene Van De Walle and playing bridge with Patsy’s women’s bridge group.  He especially loved it when family or friends would stop by to see him or come spend a few days.

He is preceded in death by his wife of almost 65 years, Patsy, his mother and father and his grandson Matthew Graff.

He is survived by his daughter Susan (Graff) Pennington, her husband Jerry Pennington, their children, Melanie (Wiemers) Thevis and her husband Danny Thevis, and their children Bradley and Tyler; Kenneth Wiemers and his wife Ellen and their children Sullivan and Mirabelle; Drew Pennington and wife Ashley and children, Korbin, Kendyl, Ethan, Baylor, Brielle, and Ryker; and Letha Mathews and her daughter Aiyla.

His son Joe Graff and wife Vickie (Sorsby) Graff and their children, Zachary Graff and wife Kelly, and their children Ella and Noah; Jackson McHorse and wife Paige, and their children Jacs and Ames; and Lindsay Golden and husband Brittan and their children Kadence, Kash and Jaylen.

His son Tom Graff and wife Marilyn (Reed) Graff and their children, Reed Graff and wife Jesika and their son Rowan, Patrick Graff and wife Hannah and Ryan Graff.

He is also survived by his siblings Frances (Graff) Mills and husband Joe Mills and their children; Barbara (Graff) Wright and husband Larry Wright, and their children; brother Fred Graff and wife Diane and their children; and sister Kathy (Graff) Billiot and husband Steve and their children.

 

Recitation of the Rosary will be held on Thursday, July 20, 2023, at 2:00 p.m., with Funeral Mass at 2:30 p.m. at St. John's Catholic Church. Entombment will immediately follow at Hondo Cemetery.

 

Services under the direction of Hondo Funeral Home.