Ted Stephen Graff

Ted Stephen Graff, 86, of New Philadelphia, passed away Tuesday, March 4, 2008 in Union Hospital at Dover.A son of the late Alvin and Pearl (Wesley) Graff, Ted was born on January 29, 1922 at Dover, Ohio.Ted resided in New Philadelphia for most of his life with the exception of two years when he lived in Denver, Colorado and for three years in Mansfield, Ohio.He graduated in 1939 from New Philadelphia High School and then he attended the College of Wooster. Following his formal education, Ted married his high school sweetheart, Ferne Schumacher, in 1942. The couple would have celebrated their 66th wedding anniversary this June.Ted served briefly in the United States Coast Guard during World War II. He was a member of the Ohio Chapter of the American Legion and he worked at the family owned Graff Company located on the south side of New Philadelphia. For 30 years, he worked as a technical engineer for the U.S. Geological Survey. During his early retirement years, he was a driver for Meals on Wheels.He was a lifetime member of Emmanuel Lutheran Church at New Philadelphia. Ted sang in the church choir for 40 years, he served on church council and taught Sunday school classes.Ted was a life-long friend to animals and had many different kinds of pets through the years. During his younger years, he was active in the Boy Scouts and later became a Boy Scout Troop Leader.In addition to spending time with his family, he enjoyed boating, collecting tools and knives and working in his workshop. Dedicated to the sport of tennis and an avid tennis player locally, he taught tennis to younger players at the Tuscora Park tennis courts.He is survived by his wife, Ferne Schumacher Graff; two daughters, Vicki (Dean) Baldwin of Erie, Pennsylvania and Linda (Rod) Sauer of Athens, Ohio; three grandchildren, Philip (Dorothy) Baldwin of Spokane, Washington, Tanya (Don) Foose of Fairview Park, Ohio and Shawna (Aaron) Garry of New Albany, Ohio; four great grandsons, Thomas, William and James Baldwin of Spokane, Washington and Jayananda Foose of Fairview Park, Ohio and one sister Treva Jaffe of Williamsburg, Maryland.Ted was preceded in death by his parents and a sister, Ilma Lee Graff Westhafer.Ted will be sadly missed by all of his family and friends and his dear cockapoo, Blackie.Private family services will be held on Friday and a public memorial service officiated by Rev. William Deist will be held on Monday, March 10, 2008 at 7:30 p.m. in the Emmanuel Lutheran Church with the family receiving friends one hour prior to the service. Following the service, a memorial reception will be held in the Fellowship hall at the church.In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions be made in Ted’s memory to the Emmanuel Lutheran Church, 202 East High Avenue, New Philadelphia, OH 44663 or to the Quaker Foundation, P.O. Box 627, New Philadelphia, OH 44663 or to the Tuscarawas County Dog Pound, 441 University Drive, New Philadelphia, OH 44663.