Obituary of Norman Graham

MAJOR (RET’D) NORMAN A GRAHAM CD, RCEME Former soldier and businessman, Norman Graham, died peacefully at the Ottawa General Hospital in Ottawa at the age of 92. He is survived by his loving wife Barbara, son Bruce and daughter Victoria Warren (Jim) Guelph, Sister Margaret Moote (Don) California and by his extended family, son Doug Reid (Mary) White Rock, daughter Corinne Terrade (Kevin) Ottawa, daughter Kathryn Calverley (Michael) Edmonton and by his seven grandchildren: Brent, Morgan, Eric, Kyle, Barbara, Evan and Bennett. He was predeceased by his first wife of 43 years, Jean in 1996. Joining the army in 1944, he served in the Royal Canadian Electrical and Mechanical Engineers for 30 years. During his service he was posted to various places in Canada, the UK, West Germany and West Africa. He retired with the rank of Major in 1974. After his retirement, he maintained his military connection with the army by joining the Electrical Mechanical Engineers Association, serving as its president from 1985-1987. He was made an honorary lifetime member of the Association in 2005. Retiring to Brantford, Ontario in 1974, he embarked on a second 30 year career by purchasing his first McDonald's restaurant. Over the years he owned and operated several McDonald’s restaurants in the Brantford area and received many awards for their operating excellence. He became the first president of the McDonald's advertising and marketing cooperative. He served on the board of directors of several companies including: the Needler Group, Dafoe and Dafoe and Blarek Inc. His other business interests included co-ownership of Goliger's Travel Agency in Brantford. Always active in the community, he served on the board of Farringdon burial ground and Farringdon Church. He was a past president of the Brantford Rotary Club and a founding member of Crime Stoppers Brantford. As a member and later Chairman of the Visitor and Convention Bureau at the Chamber of Commerce, he was instrumental in bringing a tour train to the city to boost tourism. The boys and girls club was another one of his interests and he served on the board for 10 years and as president in 1980. In 1995 he chaired a successful fundraising campaign to build a new boys and girls club. In 2004 he and Barbara retired to Kingston Ontario, spending winters at their home in Florida. In 2018 they moved to Ottawa to be closer to family. The family wishes to thank the doctors and nurses at the Ottawa General Hospital for their compassion and care. Friends will be received at BECKETT-GLAVES FAMILY FUNERAL HOME, 88 Brant Ave., Brantford on Monday, December 9, 2019 from 10:00-11:00 a.m. A funeral service will follow in the chapel at 11:00 a.m. Interment will take place at Farringdon Burial Grounds. Donations to the Brantford Boys and Girls Club would be appreciated. Norman was loved very much and will be greatly missed. A tree will be planted in memory of Norman in the Beckett-Glaves Memorial Forest.