Graves, William Frank

William Frank Graves, of Greensboro, N.C., formerly of Blacksburg, born January 11, 1964 in Savannah, Ga., died unexpectedly at his home on May 16, 2009.

Bill attended Blacksburg High School in Blacksburg, Va. and Roanoke Catholic High School in Roanoke, Va. He began a very successful career in Electrolux in Roanoke in 1982 becoming Executive Vice-President of Sales for the United States and Canada in 1997. During that time, Bill received numerous awards including Branch Manager and Division Manager of the Month many times, and he was named Area Vice-President of the Year in 1996. He retired from Electrolux in 2002 at the age of 38. Bill was a loving and generous son and husband, and a devoted father. He was well-respected by his colleagues in Electrolux , his loyalty to them will always be remembered.

He was preceded in death by his father, Victor J. Graves, his paternal grandparents, Frank and Ivory P. Graves, his maternal grandmother, Iva G. Payton, and maternal grandfather, William Payton. Bill is survived by his loving wife of almost 25 years, Kathy A. Graves; his daughter, Rebecca Marie Graves; and his son, William Joseph Graves, all of the home; mother, Eleanor Garrison; his favorite aunt and uncle, Catherine and Gerry Zirk; special cousins, Evelyn Boyle and Mariah Z. Johnson, all of Blacksburg; 2ND Class Petty Office Jason B. Zirk, now serving on the USS Georgia nuclear submarine. Bill is also survived by his very special furry friends, Sebastian and Riley, and extended family members.

Funeral services will be held on Thursday, May 21, 2009 at 1 p.m. in McCoy Funeral Home Chapel. Interment will follow in Roselawn Memorial Gardens, Christiansburg. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society, P.O. Box 22718, Oklahoma, Okla., 73123-1718. The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday evening at McCoy Funeral Home, 150 Country Club Dr., Blacksburg.