Elinor Crews Graham

Elinor Crews Graham, 86, of Salem, died on Sunday, October 30, 2011 at Lewis-Gale Medical Center. She was born on March 8, 1925 in Winston-Salem, NC to the late Charles Anderson Crews and Hazel Whittington Crews. In addition to her parents, Elinor is predeceased by her husband, Bill; and her brother, Charles Crews. Elinor was a graduate of Florida State University where she received her degree in Social Work. Upon graduation, Elinor joined the Red Cross and worked on military installations in Houston, TX and Biloxi, MS. In Biloxi she met and married her husband, Bill, and moved to Japan where he was stationed for two years. Later, military transfers took Elinor and her family to Wichita, KS, France, and Smyrna, TN. After her husbands retirement from the Air Force, Elinor and her family moved to Salem in 1969. She continued her education at Radford University in Library Science and worked in the Roanoke County and Salem City school libraries until her retirement in 1990. Elinor was an active member of Central United Methodist Church in Salem for many years. Among her many interests were music, reading, and Girl Scouts. She is survived by her sister, Rachel Kimel of Winston-Salem, NC; and her children, Rob Graham of Bent Mountain, Patricia and Philip Janis of Roanoke, Susie Mikels of Roanoke, and Nancy and Bill Robinette of Salem. She is also survived by six grandchildren, Amanda, Parker, Paul, Andrew, Rachel, and Sarah. The family will receive friends on Wednesday, November 2, 2011 from 5 to 8 p.m. in the John M. Oakey & Son Chapel in Salem. A funeral service will be held on Thursday, November 3, 2011 at 10 a.m., also in the chapel. Interment will follow at Cedar Lawn Cemetery. Pastor Kristin Holbrook will officiate. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Central United Methodist Church Elinor C. Graham Memorial Fund at 428 College Avenue in Salem, VA 24153. Online condolences to the family may be made at www.johnmoakey.com. The Graham family is being served by John M. Oakey & Son Funeral Home in Salem, 540-389-5441.