Dorothy Shaw Graham

Dorothy Jean Shaw Graham, 97, died peacefully at Birmingham Green Nursing Home in Manassas, Virginia on January 31, 2016. She was born on January 30, 1919 in Brooklyn, New York, the daughter of the late Archibald and Ida (Johnson) Shaw. On July 12, 1940 she became the devoted wife of her love, Edward Joseph Graham, Jr. of Oak Park, Illinois. Dorothy and Ed became parents to their daughter Kathleen in 1950. The family settled in Mount Prospect, Illinois where Dorothy and Ed lived for over 40 years. Ed preceded her in death in 1994. After graduating from high school, Dorothy attended the Katherine Gibbs School. She employed her skills in a variety of work and volunteer positions throughout her life. In WWII she fulfilled her patriotic duty in the Staff Assistance Corps of the American Red Cross for three years. In Mount Prospect she accepted positions of leadership in the PTA; she was a Campfire Girls leader and faithfully served Saint John’s Episcopal Church. She retired from her shipping clerk position with Bantam Books, at their warehouse in Des Plaines, Illinois in 1984. In 1995 Dorothy moved to Virginia to be near her family, first in Virginia Beach and then in Burke. In Virginia Beach she was a volunteer at the Old Coast Guard Station Museum. She joined the Burke Centre 55ers and enjoyed their daytrips to historical sites. She also was initiated into PEO Chapter AV. Throughout her life Dorothy loved drawing and painting and enjoyed taking art classes as a member of the Art Institute of Chicago. She was a talented bridge player and enjoyed singing and listening to music, reading mysteries and doing crossword puzzles. Her family and friends have been blessed with her presence in their lives and will miss her beautiful way of looking at life. Dorothy is survived by her daughter Kathleen (William) Kozak; three grandsons- David (Shelley) Kozak, Jeffrey (Lauren) Kozak and Gregory Kozak; and three great-grandchildren Benton, Wesley and Elena. Memorial service arrangements are to be determined. Dorothy will be inurned, at a future date, in the columbarium at Arlington National Cemetery, where her husband Ed now rests. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in the memory of Dorothy S. Graham to either the-Alzheimer's Association National Capital Area Chapter, 3701 Pender Drive, Suite 400, Fairfax, VA 22030, 703-359-4440 or Birmingham Green Foundation, 8605 Centreville Road, Manassas, VA 20110, 703-257-6241

Dorothy Shaw Graham

January 30, 1919 - January 31, 2016