William R. Graves

ELDRED, PA—William Roy “Bill” Graves, 87, of Eldred, passed away with his loving family by his side on Saturday, August 15, 2026, in the Olean General Hospital, Olean, NY, after a short illness.

Born on Wednesday, May 3, 1939 in Roulette, he was a son of Nelson A. and Esther Drabert Graves.  On June 11, 1966 in Olean, he married Judith E. Alexis, who passed away on February 21, 2026.

Bill was a graduate of Oswayo Valley High School, Class of 1957, in Shinglehouse.  He was first employed by the former Agway in Portville, NY and Shinglehouse and then was employed by the former Spring Hill Dairy in Portville, NY, which was later sold to Meadowbrook Dairy, then becoming Dean Foods in Cuba, NY, retiring after 30 years of service.

He was a member of Bethel Lutheran Church in Portville, where he was formerly the president of the church council. He also sang in the choir.  He loved to bowl and belonged on a league at the former Coral Lanes in Olean.  He loved to camp, having camped in every state with the exception of Hawaii. He and his wife had a permanent campsite at Sunny Hill Campsites in Richburg, NY for over 50 years.  His greatest love was spending time with his family.

Left to cherish his memory are two daughters, Joyce A. (Jack) Aderman of Glen St. Mary, Florida and Laura S. (Joel) Burdick of Columbus, Ohio; five grandchildren, Travis (Sara) Aderman, Jordan Burdick, Brooke Burdick, Chelsea Shelander and Alyssa (Damen) Palmer; five great-grandchildren, Jack “Bubba” Aderman, Abby Aderman, Izzy Aderman, Luke Aderman, and Kallen Palmer; a brother, Robert (Barbara) Graves of Clara; a sister, Linda Pease of Clara; and several nieces and nephews.

In addition his parents and wife, Bill was predeceased by a daughter and son-in-law, Kathleen L. and Mark A. Shelander; a son, Thomas A. Graves; two grandsons, Ryan T. Aderman and Daniel J. Aderman; a brother, James Graves; and a brother-in-law, Ken Pease.

Family and friends may gather from 7pm to 9pm on Wednesday, and from 10am to 11am on Thursday, August 20, 2026, at the Virgil L. Howard Funeral Home, 118 South Union Street, Shinglehouse, where funeral services will follow at 11am with the Rev. Marilyn Hale of Portville, NY, officiating.  Burial will be in Maple Grove Cemetery, Shinglehouse.

In lieu of flowers, memorials in Bill’s name may be made to Bethel Lutheran Church, PO Box 606, Portville, NY 14770; to the Alzheimer’s Association at https://donorservices.alz.org/; to the Maple Grove Cemetery Association, c/o B. West, 57 S. Branch Canada Hollow Rd, Shinglehouse, PA 46748; or to the Otto-Eldred Education Foundation, PO Box 27, Eldred, PA 16731 (in memo line—Kathy and Mark Shelander Scholarship Fund).

Bill entrusted his care to Kevin J. Dusenbury, Funeral Director/Owner of the Virgil L. Howard Funeral Home, Shinglehouse, PA.

To express condolences, light a candle or share a fond memory of Bill, please visit www.virgillhowardfuneralhome.com or the Virgil L. Howard Funeral Home Facebook page.