The Southwest Conference of the United Church of Christ is holding the family of the Rev. Dr. David Graham in our prayers. David died on December 1 at Banner Boswell Hospital Hospice Care. He spent Thanksgiving with his beloved wife, Pat, and their daughters by his side.
David received two degrees from Olivet College: a Bachelor of Arts (1958) and a Doctor of Divinity (1985). He received his Master of Divinity degree from Hartford Seminary in 1967.
Prior to his arrival in Arizona, Dr. Graham served as the pastor of Scotland Congregational Church, Scotland, CT (CT/1963-1968); pastor First Congregational Church of Marion, MA, (1968-1974), and First Congregational Church in Battle Creek, MI (1974-2004) where he served as associate minister, senior minister, and associate minister for visitation. In the Southwest Conference, Dr. Graham served Church of the Red Rocks (2005-2007) as associate pastor and United Church of Sun City (2007-2016) as assistant minister of visitation.
At the celebration of his fifth retirement, Conference Minister Rev. Bill Lyons said, “We could probably count the number of baptisms, weddings, and funerals you performed. We might even be able to calculate how many council and committee meetings you’ve attended. There is no tallying the number of lives you have touched with Christ’s love and your personal compassion. Or how many lives have been impacted by the ripple effect of your military service, your coaching, your teaching Latin, and particularly through sharing yourself with others in ministry. Having given yourself so completely to positively impact the lives of people of all ages with the Gospel, “thank you” seems a meager return on what has been your life’s investment. Well done, good and faithful servant.” David, you were loved and will be missed by us all.
There will be a remembrance and time of thanksgiving for David’s life and ministry during United Church of Sun City’s Sunday morning worship on December 22. A committal service will be held in the church’s Memorial Garden at 11:30 a.m. after worship and refreshments.