
Robert (Bob) Graham
Robert Wike Graham, 64, of Clyde, passed away on Monday, Oct. 12, 2009, at the John F. Keever Solace Center in Asheville. He was born in Statesville on Dec. 3, 1944, to his parents, John Hilton Graham and Wilma Wike Graham who preceded him in death. He lived in Cleveland, N.C., and attended Cleveland Elementary School and West Rowan High School until the age of 16. He then moved with his family to Winston-Salem 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, Va., 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, Kyle Graham and wife, Tracey, of Baton Rouge, La., Robyn Painter and husband, Danny, of Hendersonville, and Elayne Bishop and husband, Aaron, of Boone. 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, his brother John Graham and wife, Anne, of Potomac Falls, Va., and his sister, Jane Graves and husband, Rick, of Winston-Salem.
I remember well when the "twins" came to town. All the girls loved them. I think I remember Bob's playing football and was really good.Always heard nice things about them.
tribute by Molly Thornton Philo