Obituary of Billy Graham

Billy Lee Graham, 80, of Salem passed away on Tuesday, April 12, 2011 at his home after a brief illness. He was preceded in death by his parents, Luther and Edna Creasey Graham, brothers, Otis and Herman Graham. Billy served in the United States Army for six years one of those being in Korea. He retired from nursing service at the Veterans Administration Medical Center in Salem, Virginia after 30 years of service. After his retirement from the V A Hospital he worked for Camelot Hall Nursing Home (now Salem Health and Rehab Center) for ten years. He was loved by many special nieces and nephews, and his many friends in the Truth Seekers class at Fellowship Community Church where he was a member. He loved his family and helping others. Working in his yard and his flowers were his passion. Surviving are his wife, Darlene Smith Graham; daughter, Cynthia Diane Hobday and husband, Archie, of Woodstock; grandsons, Jeremy Lee Wright, of Woodstock, Jason Wright and fiancee', and her son, Cameron Carroll of Salem, Michael Wright Jr. and wife Kim, of New Market, Matthew Wright and wife Vickie, Wallace Wright Sr. and wife, Sherri, all of Woodstock; and Joseph Hobday, of Winchester; great grandchldren, Tristan, Kaelyn, Wally Jr., Bayleigh, Kendra, and Jacob Wright; brothers, Robert Graham, and Curtis Graham and wife, Margaret all of Durham, N. C.; sisters, Mildred Balestrina, of Connecticut, Barbara, VanAntwerp, of California, Sylvia Pully of Durham, N.C., Betty Jane Scarbourgh and husband, Rick of Reno, Nevada, and Marie Cook, also of Durham, N.C., and sisters-in-law, Betty Graham, of Chapel Hill, N.C., Linda Graham, of Colonial Beach, Va. Funeral services will be conducted 10 a.m. Saturday, April 16, 2011 at Simpson Funeral Home 5160 Peters Creek Road Roanoke by the Rev. Ken Nienke. Interment with military honors will be in Blue Ridge Memorial Gardens. The family will receive friends from 6-9 p.m. Friday at Simpson Funeral Home. 540-366-0707