Hartford
Willard A. (Bill) Graham, 76, of Hartford, lost his brief battle with cancer on Sunday, September 4, 2016, at the Glens Falls Hospital.
He was born on August 1, 1940, the son of Foster and Geraldine (McKernon) Graham of Argyle, but was raised primarily by his grandparents, Willard and Rachel McKernon assisting them on their family farm in Hartford. Bill graduated from Hartford Central School in 1958. On February 6, 1959, he married his one and only, Phyllis (Bartley) Graham.
Bill (“Stomper”) worked many long hours at a variety of jobs to support his family including helping out on farms; driving bus for Hartford Central School; General Electric and retiring from Sandy Hill after 40 years. He was a member of the Hartford Volunteer Fire Company for 52 years, serving as its Chief for 25. He was fashionista with his tee-shirt collection of "inspirational" words, and infamous for selling the most raffle tickets, working the blanket booth at the annual bazaar and helping out at pancake breakfasts, chicken barbecues and collecting bottles and cans for the Hartford Ladies Auxiliary. He enjoyed deer and moose hunting with his family and friends; gardening; bowling; watching Mets and U-Conn Ladies Basketball games; and, adored Reba McEntire!
Besides his parents and grandparents, Bill was predeceased by his brother Lawrence; his sister Betsy and her husband, Wilfred McCotter; his father and mother-in-law, Homer and Louise Bartley; his sister-in-law and her husband, Lillian and Bill Miller; and, other, aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews.
In addition to his wife of 57 years and his beloved cats, Boots and Bart, he is survived by his daughter and her husband, Marianne and Robert Green of Fairfax, Vermont and their sons, Ryan and Cory; his daughter and her partner, Judith Graham and Kathie Marks of Norwich and, his son and his wife, Jeffrey and Alison Graham of Brookfield, Vermont, and their children, Megan and Kyle. He also leaves his brother and his wife, Ronald and Donna Graham of Fort Edward; his brother Raymond Graham of Argyle; his sister-in-law and her husband, Mary and Stan Hanna of West Palm Beach, Florida, many nieces, nephews, cousins and long-time family friends, Diane and Ronald Mercure of Hartford and Charlie and Sue Mellon of Lake George.
At Bill’s request, there will be no calling hours. A private graveside service will be celebrated on Saturday at Morningside Cemetery in Hartford, to be followed by a reception for family and friends at the Firehouse in Hartford from 11:00am to 1:00pm. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in his name to: Hartford Volunteer Fire Company, P.O. Box 121, Hartford, NY 12838 or to the Argyle Emergency Squad, 15 Sheridan Street, Argyle, NY 12809 or the American Cancer Society, 1 Penny Lane, Latham, NY 12110.
The family would like to thank the doctors, nurses, aides and staff at on T 2 at Glens Falls Hospital, Hudson Headwaters, HCR and NeighborsNY and their aides who helped care for Bill during his illness. The family also wishes to thank the many friends who offered support to the family during his illness.
Arrangements are in the care of the M.B. Kilmer Funeral Home, 123 Main St. Argyle. For online condolences and to view Bill’s Book of Memories, please visit our website at www.kilmerfuneralhome.com.
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