Obituary

ROY VERNON "BUDDY" GRAHAM, JR.
(November 13, 1937 - December 16, 2015)

Roy Vernon "Buddy" Graham, Jr., 78 of Parkersburg, W.Va. formerly of Huntington, W.VA., passed away, Wednesday, December 16, 2015 in Ruby Memorial Hospital, Morgantown, W.Va.  He was born November 13, 1937 in Pikeville, KY. the son of the late, Roy V. Graham, Sr. and Iola Leitze Graham Martin. He was a 1955 graduate of Huntington East High School and Marshall University where he was a member of the Golf team, Sigma Alpha Epsilon Fraternity and the Robe Leadership Honorary. Buddy’s career in volunteerism spanned many directions with many accomplishments. He was a golf coach at Marshall University, administrative assistant at Marshall, Insurance agent, a banker, volunteer basketball coach at the YMCA, AAU Volunteer coach with two national championships earned with his teams. His experience in the business world was extensive.  He ran the Memorial Field House, was an assistant at the Big Sandy Superstore Arena, Huntington area Chamber of Commerce, Huntington Area Development Council, director of Gallia County Ohio Chamber Of Commerce and Community Improvement Corporation, Executive Director of the Polymer Alliance Zone and his last positions was as Sr. Vice President, COO of Professional Services of America, Inc. in Parkersburg, W.Va. One of his greatest joys in life was participating in (whether playing or observing) Marshall University sports. He was elated when he was inducted into the Marshall University Athletic Hall of Fame in 2013.  He was also a member of Fifth Avenue Baptist Church. He is survived by his wife, Jane Gessel Graham of Parkersburg W.Va; his sister, Verona Cumberledge of Lexington, KY; several nieces and nephews; sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Mary and John Hilbert of Point Pleasant, W.Va; sister-in-law, Frances Gessel of St. Albans, W.Va.  In lieu of flowers, a Golf Scholarship will be established in Buddy’s Memory at the Marshall University Foundation c/o R.V. “Buddy” Graham Scholarship, P.O. Box 1360 Huntington, W.Va. 25715-1360. Graveside services will be private.  A Celebration of Life will be conducted at 2:30 PM on Sunday, December 20, 2015 at Henson & Kitchen Mortuary; Barboursville, W.Va.