Roberta Graham

GRAHAM, Roberta Forrestine Wallace

Roberta F Graham, 93, passed away on April 24, 2015 in Austin, Texas.
Roberta was born near Union City, Oklahoma in Canadian County on August 10, 1921 to Lloyd LeRoy Wallace and Virginia Nash Majors Wallace. Roberta was born and raised on her family's farm where they grew wheat and cotton and lived through numerous tornadoes, the dust bowl and the great depression in a strong community of friends, family and faith. She attended school in Union City, and then Oklahoma College for Women in Chickasha, where she received a B.S. in Home Economics in 1942. After college Roberta worked as a county agent, traveling and teaching home economics to young women in and around Oklahoma City. During this time, she met Delbert Allen Graham, also a county agent teaching animal science to young men, following his service in the Marines during WWII. She married Delbert on July 13, 1947, a union of 55 years that ended with his death in 2003.

Roberta and Del moved from Oklahoma to San Antonio, Texas in 1957 with their three children where they founded a veterinary drug business, South Texas Serum and Supply Co. Roberta helped Del with the business in the early years, while raising the children. She was very involved in St Andrew's United Methodist Church, holding numerous positions in the Women's Circles. In addition, she volunteered in the local hospitals and museums and was a member of the San Antonio Garden Club. Roberta and Del enjoyed all the activities of their three children, including hunting and fishing on a ranch near Jourdanton, Texas where Roberta managed the camp cabin, cooking for the hunters and enjoying the south Texas scenery and wildlife. She was passionately protective of a covey of blue quail that lived near the cabin, telling the hunters, "Don't you dare shoot my blue quail!" In later years, Roberta and Del owned numerous race horses, and enjoyed watching them run at Retama Park in San Antonio as well as other Texas tracks. Roberta particularly enjoyed visiting the new foals born in the spring each year.

Roberta moved to Austin, Texas in 2010. She never lost her love of San Antonio however, especially watching and rooting for the San Antonio Spurs. Above all, Roberta had a deep faith in the Lord, and was a dedicated wife, mother and grandmother, offering constant love and support to her family.

Roberta is survived by her son John Graham, son Tom Graham and wife Teri Flack, daughter Jeanne Graham Bryan and husband Joe Bryan, grandchildren John Graham Jr and wife Joni Shriver Graham, Guy Graham and wife Traci Graham, Jamie Bryan, Bess Bryan Cattau and husband Michael Cattau and Sam Bryan; and great-grandchildren Logan Graham, Marlie Graham, Avery Graham and Kennedy Graham.

The family would like to express gratitude to the nurses and staff of Seton Medical Center (Central) and Christopher House for their professional loving care of Roberta during her brief time there. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her memory to Hospice Austin's Christopher House. The family will celebrate and honor Roberta's life at a private graveside ceremony.