Robert Graves Obituary

Robert A. Graves

Nov 21, 1943 - Nov 23, 2025

Evans, Ga. formerly of Wakeman, Oh.

Robert Alan Graves, 82, of Evans, Georgia, passed Sunday, November 23, 2025. His beloved wife, Margaret, was by his side, where she had been for their 62 years of marriage.

Robert was born to Fred E. Graves and Doris Denman Graves in Norwalk, November 21, 1943. He spent his entire life in Wakeman until moving to Georgia in 2007.

In 1963, he married Margaret Carey and was blessed with two children, Dr. Tammara L. Graves Bryan and Michael R. Graves. He was a 1961 graduate of Western Reserve High School and served a four-year electrician's apprenticeship at NASA Plumbrook in Sandusky. He then went to work for General Motors in Elyria as an electrician and maintenance foreman until the plant closed. In his last few years there, he started his own plastics injection-molding business in the original Graves Implement building and ran it until his health forced him to retire.

He spent many hours wiring homes and fixing electrical problems for everyone in Wakeman. He loved working on old trucks and cars with Mike. He never missed the kids' activities at school, especially the sports they were involved in. During his time in Georgia, he began building miniature houses, completed 20, and had started his 21st before he became too ill to work on them. He also built a life-size dollhouse for Michala and a fort playset for Austin. He enjoyed traveling with his family, and later, he and Margaret would just take off and explore somewhere. They spent many hours driving hundreds of miles across the United States, seeing its wonders.

Robert is survived by his wife, Margaret Louise (Carey) Graves; daughter, Dr. Tammara L. Graves Bryan (Steven Craig) of Evans, Georgia; grandchildren, Austin Craig Bryan of Seattle, Washington and Michala Louise Bryan of Atlanta, Georgia; brothers, Don (Donna) Graves of Cherokee, Oklahoma, and David (Beverly) Graves of Huron; sister-in-law, Marolyn Graves of Wakeman; sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Phyllis and Jim Brown of Shelby; and sister-in-law, Martha Carey of Clarksfield; numerous nieces and nephews and great-nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his son, Michael Robert Graves; his parents, Fred E. and Doris (Denman) Graves; brother, Jack Graves; in-laws, Ronald Carey, Barbara and Franklin Stentz, and Ruth and Jack Nichols.

A remembrance will be Monday, December 22, 2025 at Toft Funeral Home, 16 Cooper Street, Wakeman. The family will receive visitors at 1 p.m. with a service at 2 p.m. at the funeral home, followed by burial at Wakeman Cemetery. Family and friends are invited to attend and celebrate the life of Robert.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to National Multiple Sclerosis Society at https://www.nationalmssociety.org.

Toft Funeral Home, Wakeman Chapel, 16 Cooper Street, Wakeman, is handling arrangements.

Condolences may be shared online at toftfuneralhome.com.