Richard Wayne Graves

Richard Wayne Graves

February 27, 1936 - July 22, 2023

Richard Wayne "Dick" Graves, of Woodway, Texas, went to be with his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ the morning of July 22, 2023. Visitation will be Tuesday, July 25, from 6 to 8 p.m., at Grace Gardens Funeral Home, in Woodway. The memorial service is scheduled for Wednesday, July 26, at 1 p.m., at First Baptist Church in Woodway, with Rev. David Harrell officiating. There will be a reception following the service at First Baptist Church Woodway. There will be a private, family ceremony at Waco Memorial Park. Dick was born on February 27, 1936, in Texarkana, Texas to Charles Benjamin Graves, Sr. and Lucille Phipps Graves, both of whom preceded him in death. He was also preceded in death by his sister, Leona Ruth Dill; and a brother, Charles B. Graves, Jr. Dick is survived by his loving wife of 65 years, Mary Janice "Jan" Cales; his daughter, Mary Lou Winterrowd and husband, Lance of McGregor, Texas; and son, Richard Graves Jr. and wife, Janet of McKinney, Texas; grandchildren, Benjamin Graves of McKinney, Texas, Faith Brugner and her husband, Matt of Dallas, Texas, Zachary Winterrowd and wife, Shayna of Irving, Texas, and Matthew Winterrowd of Frisco, Texas; three great-grandchildren, Madilynn Graves, Aubree Graves, James Brugner III; and a great-granddaughter, Evelynne due in October; along with a number of nieces and nephews. Also surviving is Wenxue Ma and husband, David and children, Sammy and Sophia, of Pearland, Texas. Wenxue became a part of the family when Dick and Jan hosted her while she attended Baylor, where she received her masters and doctorate degrees. Dick was an active Boy Scout, receiving his Eagle Award, and the God and Country Award, active in the Order of the Arrow, serving as an officer for a three-state area. Dick graduated from Baylor University with a BBA degree in accounting in 1958. It was at Baylor where he met Jan who also graduated in 1958. They were married on August 30th of that year. Dick joined the U.S. Army Reserve in 1955 and served in various units for eight years, serving the last four years as Communications Chief. Upon graduating from Baylor, Dick joined Northwestern Mutual Life in the Dallas Regional Investment Office. He had a 38-year career with Northwestern, spending six years in Miami as Regional Manager of the Southeast and the last 21 years in Dallas as Regional Manager of the Southwest. He retired from Northwestern in February 1996 and in 1997 they moved to Waco to enjoy more activities with Baylor. Dick was ordained as a Deacon in 1962 while in Dallas and has a served as a Deacon in several Baptist churches and Chairman of the Deacons on many occasions. He has also served as Bus Captain and Bus Director, Bible Teacher, Adult Director, Church Treasurer and Outreach Director.

The Graves are current members of First Baptist Church Woodway. He also served on the boards of several organizations including Florida Baptist Children's Home, Mortgage Bankers of Miami, Dade County Master Plan Task Force and Texans Who Care, where he served as Chairman for 10 years.

He maintained a close relationship with Baylor University over the years, and he has been a member of the Baylor Bear Foundation since 1959 and a member of the Athletic Directors Club. Together with Jan, they received the Milton T. Gregory Distinguished Service Award, he and Jan were awarded Lady Bear Fans of the Year in 2005, the President of the Tip Off Club in 2004, served on the Estate Planning Council, Development Council, and Baylor Bear Foundation Board.

In remembrance of Dick Graves' life, the family requests memorial gifts be made to the Baylor Bear Foundation Endowed Scholarship Fund, Baylor University, One Bear Place, Waco,TX 76798-7050, or online at https://bbis.baylor.edu/give. Care Net Pregnancy Center of Central Texas is another option for memorial giving, and the address is 7110 Sanger Ave, Waco, TX 76712, or online at https://pregnancycare.org/donor/donate/. In either case, please note the gift is in his memory.