Kathryn Elizabeth Graf (nee: Kolb), 98, of Elyria passed away Tuesday September 17, 2019 at O’Neill Healthcare in Bay Village where she had resided since February of 2018. Kathryn Elizabeth Graf (nee: Kolb), was born June 19, 1921, to Gertrude and Bernard Kolb in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin. Kathryn grew up in the Chicago area, and after business school she worked in a bank. She then enlisted in the United States Naval Reserves (WAVES) during World War II. While in radio school at Miami of Ohio, in Oxford, she met her future husband, Richard B. Graf. They were married February 5, 1945, at the Anacostia Naval Chapel in Washington prior to his deployment on the USS Livermore. Kathryn remained in Washington working in communications during the war.
After the war, they returned to civilian life and settled down in Downers Grove, Illinois, to start a family. They lived in Marengo, Illinois for fifteen years where she was a homemaker and in Monroe, Wisconsin for eighteen years, where she and her husband owned and operated Lanz Hardware. Upon retirement they moved to Mt. Vernon, Ohio and then to Elyria, Ohio. Throughout her life, Kathryn was very active in community affairs, especially anything having to do with children. She was a Cub Scout leader, Camp Fire Girl leader and room mother as well as PTA president and Women’s Club president. She and her husband belonged to the American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars. She was an active member of the Catholic Church. Kathryn will be remembered by her family and friends for her kind and caring nature and her love of hosting holiday gatherings, even into her nineties, and enjoyed camping and travel.
Kathryn was preceded in death by her husband of almost seventy years; Richard. She is survived by five children; Richard P. Graf (Victoria) of Centerville, Ohio, Mary K. Graf of Fairview Park, Ohio, Philip A. Graf (Kathe) of Rolling Meadows, Illinois, Josephine A. Graf of Grafton, Ohio, and Joseph D. Graf (Elizabeth Blue) of Arlington, Virginia. She is also survived by five grandchildren and nine great grandchildren.
Funeral services and burial will be private at Spring Grove Cemetery in Cincinnati, Ohio. Funeral arrangements were entrusted to The Laubenthal-Mercado Funeral Home and Cremation Services of Elyria (440)322-4626. Online condolences to the family may be expressed at www.laubenthalmercado.com
