Carl D. Graves, Sr.'s Obituary
Carl was born to Robert D. Graves, Sr. and Nettie Rhodes Graves on March 1, 1929 in Medina, TN. Carl served in the Navy and the Air force and was a veteran of the Korean War. He began aviation in the Air force and continued with Southern Airlines. He was an air traffic operations supervisor for the Federal Aviation Administration in 1981 and worked 27 years with the Memphis ARTCC before he retired.His passion for aviation allowed him to instruct others for many in the Mid-south area. He was a member of the Masonic Whitehaven Lodge #599F. Carl was an avid sportsman and active in the Grand Junction Field Trial Association and loved training field trial dogs as well as judging for numerous field trials. He enjoyed fishing and hunting. He was a charter member of Kensington Baptist Church which merged with what is now known as Gracewood Baptist Church.He was preceded in death by his loving wife of 57 years; Hazel Luna Graves who passed in April of 2008; and a sister, Almeda Brown.He is survived by his children and their spouses; Cynthia Graves Cresswell and her husband James of Nesbit, MS, Carl Dan Graves, Jr. and his wife Melisa of Germantown, TN, and Jill Graves Clyburn and her husband Robert Clyburn of Germantown, TN.He is survived by his sisters; Murriel Blow, Marie Jones and Reba Waller; his brothers, Robert D. Graves, Jr., Larry Graves and Rhodes Graves; his grandchildren; Michael graves, Holly Lunsford, Mark Graves, Tracy Cresswell, Jimmy Cresswell, Ashley Clyburn, Chase Clyburn, Cayln Clyburn, and Kathryn Clyburn; his great-grandchildren, Walker Cresswell and Camden Lunsford.
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