Robert Wike Graham

GRAHAM CLYDE, NC - Robert Wike Graham, passed away on Monday, October 12, 2009 at the John F. Keever Solace Center in Asheville, NC. He was born in Statesville, NC on December 3, 1944, to his parents, John Hilton Graham and Wilma Wike Graham who preceded him in death. He lived in Cleveland, NC, and attended Cleveland Elementary School and West Rowan High School until the age of 16. He then moved with his family to Winston-Salem, NC, and attended R.J. Reynolds High School. While at Reynolds High School, he excelled as center on the football team, was named All American, and played in the 1962 North-South Shrine Bowl game. Bob graduated from Staunton Military Academy in Staunton, Virginia, and later attended East Carolina University. He was a graduate of the Young Executive Institute at UNC Chapel Hill. He served in the North Carolina National Guard stationed in Winston-Salem. He began his business career working for W.E. Graham and Sons Division of Vulcan Materials Company. In his early years with Vulcan, he moved to a number of locations throughout North Carolina and Virginia managing crushing operations to supply stone to the Interstate Highway System and local markets. He was responsible for winning numerous national beautification awards from the National Stone, Sand, and Gravel Association while employed by Vulcan. Later he worked for B.V. Hedrick Industries as Operations Manager in Western North Carolina until his retirement in 2009. He participated in several civic organizations and served as a board member for the Hendersonville YMCA. He is survived by his wife, Jann Scarborough Graham of Clyde; four children, Wike Graham and wife, Kimberly, of Hendersonville, NC, Kyle Graham and wife, Tracey, of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Robyn Painter and husband, Danny, of Hendersonville, NC, and Elayne Bishop and husband, Aaron, of Boone, NC. He is also survived by seven grandchildren: William and Katherine Graham, Serena and Ethan Graham, Graham and Hayes Painter, and Lucas Bishop. He is further survived by his twin brother, Ed Graham and wife, Vicki, of Winston-Salem, NC, his brother, John Graham and wife, Anne, of Potomac Falls, VA, and his sister, Jane Graves and husband, Rick, of Winston-Salem, NC. He was preceded in death by aunts and uncles, as well as his mother-in-law, Roberta Scarborough. Other survivors include his father-in-law, Alton Scarborough of Charlotte and his brother-in-law, Joel Scarborough and wife, Barbara of Boone, NC. Also surviving are many nieces, nephews, cousins, and close friends. A Memorial Service, conducted Dr. Jeff White, will be held at the Cullowhee United Methodist Church in Cullowhee, NC on Friday, October 16, 2009 at 2 p.m. A private committal ceremony will take place by the family prior to the service at the graveside. The Graham family would like to recognize the compassionate care received by the nurses, doctors, and other staff on the Oncology and Hematology Unit at St. Joseph's Hospital, as well as the Cancer Center of North Carolina, and the Solace Center. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Western North Carolina Chapter of the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, 5950 Fairview Road, Suite 250, Charlotte, NC 28210 or to the John F. Keever Solace Center c/o CarePartners Foundation, PO Box 25338, Asheville, NC 28813. For those who desire, an online memorial register is available at "Obituaries" at www.wellsfuneralhome.com.