Robert Henry "Rub" Graham
Marriages
Elda Mae Sanford - May 26, 1956
Burial Details
Obituaries
Grand Junction Daily Sentinel page 5B Death Notice - July 20, 2016
Robert Henry Graham, 86, Grand Junction, died July 12, 2016,
at HopeWest and Hospice Care Center.
Visitation will be at 9 a.m. Saturday at Martin Mortuary. Services
will be at 10 a.m. at the mortuary. Burial will follow at Memorial
Gardens Cemetery.
He was a uranium miner and truck driver.
Survivors include his wife, Elda Mae of Gateway; two sons, Tam
of Delta and Tim of Dove Creek; one daughter, Starr Graham-Baldwin
of Delta; 11 grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.
Memorial contributions to the Gateway Community Club, P.O.
Box 340, Gateway 81522.
Grand Junction Daily Sentinel page 8A Obituary - July 15, 2016
Robert Henry "Rub"
Graham
September 8, 1929 - July 12, 2016
Robert Henry “Rub”
Graham was born September
8, 1929, in Grand Junction,
CO to Fred and Lila Graham.
Robert grew up in Gateway
and after losing his mother at
the age of two, he spent his
youth during summers on
Tenderfoot Mesa prospecting
with his father. Other summers were spent on Pinion Mesa
building fence, etc. He was in the first high school graduating
class from Gateway School in 1947, and served in the U.S.
Army during the Korean War with overseas duty in France.
Rub married Elda Mae Sanford May 26, 1956, and together
celebrated 60 years of marriage this year. To this union three
children were born, Tam (Deana) Graham, Delta; Tim Graham,
Dove Creek, and Starr Graham-Baldwin (Chuck) Delta; 11
grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren.
Rub cowboyed, mined and hauled uranium ore. He had mining
ventures that included one with his wife as his working partner
and others with both sons. Together they enjoyed the prospect
of making a few extra dollars with high grade ore! The peace
and solitude of the mountains was one of his joys. In his latter
years he was always that unseen and unheard supporter of the
Gateway Community, working behind the scenes as he helped
maintain the community park. He was proud that under his care
the trees and foliage began to flourish after years of neglect.
Many of the trees were grown by him from seed. He supported
his wife by the many errands he ran for the school and
Community Club.
During his 25 years as a truck driver he taught many young
men to drive truck. He had many stories about his mountain
trucking and adventures, including walking into the truck shop
one day carrying the steering wheel of his truck as it’d come off
in his hands when it broke off of the steering column on the way
down John Brown Canyon!
Pride in his children and grandchildren was stated daily. A
quiet, reserved man he delighted in visits from family and
friends in his home and to those with whom he was comfortable
he told stories of his youth and adventures. His favorite singer
was Hank Williams and often sang to his family. Never was
there a person more proud of their heritage and home town.
A funeral service will be held at 10:00 a.m., Saturday, July 16,
2016, at Martin Mortuary with a visitation time from 9:00
a.m.until service time. Burial will follow at Memorial Gardens
Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers the family has asked that memorial
contributions be made to the Gateway Community Club, PO
Box 340, Gateway, CO 81522. Friends and family are invited to
leave their memories of Rub at www.martinmortuary.com.
