Gwendolyn Stevens Graham, 91, of Troutville was born December 16, 1928 and departed to be with her heavenly father on July 25, 2020. She graduated from Troutville High School and organized many reunions for the Class of 1946. Gwen also organized reunions for the Layman Family descendants. She was a member of Hollins Road Baptist Church and the Sunday School Class, Faithful Believers. Gwen’s piano and organ playing was enjoyed by many churches, including Troutville Church of the Brethren. She volunteered at Friendship North Rehab and at the Brian Center in Fincastle as a pianist. She also volunteered at Mill Mountain Theater and enjoyed dancing with Star City Line Dancers.
She had a career with Allstate Insurance and State Farm Insurance. Later, she worked part-time at S.H. Heironimus in Roanoke, Virginia. She was such a good friend and many people loved her dearly. She always had time to listen and loved to talk on the phone to her friends and family. Her lovely smile and contagious giggle will be missed by so many people. She was kind and brightened up every room she entered like a ray of sunshine. She is now playing the organ for a choir of angels in heaven.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Harold “Bill” Graham; mother, Susie Layman Graham; father, Robert Stevens; step-father, Hylas Trent Brown Sr.; stepsisters, Wanda Kirby, and Ora Nicely; and step-brother, Hylas Trent Brown Jr. She was also predeceased by her first husband, Roy L. (R.L.) Obenshain, and her second husband, William (Bill) Craft.
Gwen is survived by her stepsister, Eva Brown Hooley of Goshen, Ind.; sister-in-law, Barbara Brown of Rocky Mount; Haven Nicely of Lexington; special cousin, Mary Ann Obenshain of Troutville, and many other cousins; stepson, Bruce W. Graham (Theresa) of Mechanicsville; stepdaughter, Cathy G. Embry (Lance) of Dallas, Ga.; grandchildren, Christopher Graham, Ross Graham (Triest), Catherine Redd (Taylor) and Julia Graham; great-grandchildren, Gabriel, Maxwell and Luke Graham and Declan and Quinn Redd; stepchildren from previous marriage, Teresa (Craft) Frye (Steve) of Roanoke, Bonnie (Craft) Witt (Charlie) of Surfside Beach, S.C., and Kenny Craft (Faith) of Troutville. She is also survived by a sister-in-law, Betty Britt of Salem.
Thank you to the Palliative Care Unit, 10th floor of Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital.
Her Celebration of Life was held July 27, 2020 at Oakey’s North Chapel with the Rev. Mark Washington officiating. Burial followed in Troutville Cemetery. The family requests donations in Gwen’s honor be made to Hollins Road Baptist Church, 3502 Old Mountain Road, Roanoke, 24019.
