William G. Graeff

William G. Graeff, 87, of New Philadelphia, died Tuesday, November 9, 2004 in Union Hospital at Dover.A son of the late Charles and Hazel (Mason) Graeff, Bill was born February 5, 1917 at Dover.He was a 1935 graduate of Dover High School and a 1948 graduate of Ohio State University. Then in 1960, Bill graduated from Kent State University. He retired in 1982 from Encyclopedia Britannica where he worked as a district manager.Bill was a member of the First Presbyterian Church in New Philadelphia where he served as a Deacon, an Elder and a Sunday School Superintendent. He was also a 50 year member of the New Philadelphia Masonic Lodge #177.Bill enlisted with the United States Army Airforce on January 4, 1942 where he served stateside during World War II. He then received an honorable discharge on December 18, 1945. He is survived by his loving wife, Margery (Taylor) Graeff, whom he married on December 17, 1942 at the First Presbyterian Church in New Philadelphia; children, Todd (Mary) Graeff of Flagstaff, Arizona, Taylor (Karen) Graeff of New Philadelphia and Charlotte (Ralph) Stice of Rockville, Maryland; grandchildren, Leslie (Keith) Kreinbihl of Normal, Illinois, Carrie Graeff of Witchita, Kansas, Allison Stice and Philip Stice both of Rockville, Maryland; and one brother, Richard (Marilyn) Graeff of Arcanum, Ohio.Bill was preceded in death by his parents and by a sister and her husband, Charlotte and Richard Maun.In keeping with Bill’s wishes, there will be no visitation and cremation will be conducted at the Linn-Hert-Geib Funeral Home & Crematory in New Philadelphia. A memorial service will be held on Friday, November 12, 2004 at 1:00PM at the First Presbyterian Church in New Philadelphia with Pastor Michael Seely officiating. A reception will be held at the First Presbyterian Church following the service.