Final Salute

Boonville – Basil Graham, 100, of Boonville, Indiana passed away peacefully at the Linda E. White Hospice House in Evansville on Wednesday, September 30, 2020 with his family by his side.
Basil was born July 31, 1920 to the late Ada (Fortune) & William Graham of Spencer County, Indiana.

Basil started his career operating heavy equipment when he was just 17 years old. His first job was working on the blue bridge in Owensboro, Kentucky. Basil was a World War II Veteran and proudly served the US Navy as a Seabee and helped build infrastructure and runways during the war in Kodiak, AK and Japan. His career in operating heavy equipment spanned over 50 years and he completed projects all over Indiana and Kentucky. He worked for, Industrial Contractors, Feigel Construction and Rudolph Brothers. Basil retired from the International Union of Operating Engineers Local 181. At the time of his death, Basil was the oldest living lifetime member of the VFW Post 3418 in Boonville and a lifetime member of the Antique Steam & Gas Engine Club at Thresherman Park.

Basil loved spending time with his family and teaching his grandchildren and great grandchildren how to roll dice. In his spare time Basil loved to repair and trade heavy equipment. He enjoyed traveling to Washington, DC on the Honor Flight of Southern Indiana.

He is preceded in death by his parents and wife of 54 years, Katherine (Metzger) Graham, brothers Norman & Dale Graham and sister Patsy Graham.

Basil is survived by children, Brenda (Vernon) Byers and Monte (JoAnn) Graham all of Boonville; grandchildren, Abby Byers, Vanessa (Kirk) Seiler, Nicholas (Michele) Graham, and Miranda (Krys) Kolley; great grandchildren, Lauren, Graham & Gabriel Seiler, Levi & Emmitt Graham, and Claude & Grace Kolley; and several nieces and nephews. Basil is also survived by his sister Bonnie Johnson of Indianapolis.

The family would like to thank the staff at Deaconess Gateway Hospital and the Linda E. White Hospice House and especially his daughter Brenda who cared for Basil the last 7 months.

A graveside service will be held at 2 P.M. on Saturday, October 3, 2020 at Maple Grove Cemetery in Boonville, Indiana with Pastor Andy Schmitz officiating. BRADLEY’S COLONIAL CHAPEL is assisting the family. Condolences may be sent to bradleyscc.com. Memorial contributions can be made to Honor Flight of Southern Indiana www.honorflightsi.org.

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Published in Courier Press from Oct. 1 to Oct. 2, 2020.