Obituary of Frank Edwards Graves

Frank Edwards Graves, a cherished father, grandfather and husband, peacefully passed on January 5, 2025, with his daughter and son-in-law at his side. Frank was known for his keen intellect, his love of travel and his kind and humorous personality. Frank is dearly remembered by his son, Simon Graves, his daughter and son-in-law, Alison and Christopher Dilworth, and his three grandsons, Owen, Jacob and Zachary Dilworth.

Frank was an accomplished athlete as a young man, playing soccer semi-professionally and placing on the UK Olympic swim team. A native of Liverpool, England, Frank was a “Scouser” at heart, and his love of Liverpool was evident every weekend when he watched Liverpool Football Club play on the television and loudly coached whoever the poor current LFC manager was – as Frank always knew how LFC could do better at the “Kop.” We know that in heaven he is doing the same, and, in true LFC spirit, that he will never walk alone.

Frank was even more proud of his adopted country, the United States. He came to the U.S. in the 1960’s to pursue his career in aeronautical engineering. At Boeing in Seattle he worked on the landing gears for both the original 747 aircraft and the first Space Shuttle. When economic woes caused Boeing to downsize, Frank, his wife, Doreen, and their son, Simon, were packing up to return to Liverpool, when Wrigley’s Chewing Gum called. Frank couldn’t believe at first what they wanted him to do, but the company said he would design factories for them overseas, and so started a new chapter in Frank’s life. He moved the family to LaGrange, Illinois, and there his daughter Alison was born. Over the next 20 years, Frank designed and oversaw factory completions in Taiwan, Nairobi, the Philippines, and many other locations. He travelled the globe, and brought that travel bug back home to Alison, who became a diplomat in the U.S. Foreign Service.

Frank met his second wife, Cathy Graves (neé Mican) at Wrigley’s, and they had a long and loving marriage, and he became a beloved member of the extended Mican family. After retiring from Wrigley’s, Frank led an active and engaged life, particularly enjoying golf and volunteering at St. Peter and St. Paul Lutheran Church. Frank’s neighbors, Kari and Chris Abrahamsen, were like a second family to him, and he loved being a part of their family and watching their two beautiful girls, Kacey and Emily, grow into young women.

A memorial service and internment of ashes will take place at St. Alban’s Episcopal Church in Annandale, Virginia, later in the year. In lieu of flowers, please send a donation to the Holocaust Museum in Washington D.C., at the following link: https://donate.ushmm.org/6hRw6kqugUOvJLNKCIbD1g2

May Frank’s memory always be a blessing to those who remember him, and may God hold him and us all in the palm of his hand.