Longmont newspaper Longmont, Colorado 03-21-02 : GRAFF, Gerald Rex : Aug. 11, 1918 -March 18, 2002 : : Gerald Rex Graff died Monday, March 18, 2002, in Napa, Calif. He was 83. : : He was born Aug. 11, 1918, to Frank and Wilma (Tandy) Graff in Liberty, Ill. : : He graduated from Payson High School and played semi-pro baseball in Quincy, : Ill. He attended college at Western Illinois in Macomb. : : Mr. Graff served as a torpedo bomber pilot in the Marine Corps and spent : time at Guadalcanal. He received many citations, including the Distinguished : Flying Cross. He was recalled during the Korean conflict, in which he served : as a personnel officer for a Marine Corps helicopter group. : : He moved from Boulder to Longmont in 1991 before moving to California in : 2000. : : In Boulder, he worked as an accountant for the Public Service Co. for 30 : years. : : Mr. Graff enjoyed baseball, golf and traveling. : : He was preceded in death by a son, Stephen; and two brothers, Bobbie and : Merle. : : Mr. Graff is survived by his wife of 58 years, Mary Alice; two sons, Bob and : Jim; a daughter, Kathleen; a sister, Marian Conavay; four grandchildren; and : three great-grandchildren. : : Private family services will be held. : : Memorial contributions may be made to the Napa Valley Alzheimer's Coalition, : 2447 Old Sonoma Road, Napa, CA 94558. : : Back to the top : (21) : : :